I have a 5 year old who begun p1 and is on the waiting list for an assessment. He may or may not be autistic, but the current traits is delay in functional communication (which has improved significantly from a 1 word level to a 2/3 word understanding of instructions and a 5 word level of actually speaking since taking him to private speech therapy. He has issues with foods in that he only eats specific foods.
Recently the school he attends states he might spend five mins at an activity and then goes wandering about. He won't come back to the activity, wants to only play with toys or go outside, and won't listen when they say to complete an activity. There is 3 in his class so I can't blame the busy noisy environment. The school states he understands what no means, it's just he refuses.
If they take him outside he will run about, but wants to play all day. Even outdoor work is the same. He wants to do stuff he is interested in. It's not that he doesn't understand but he just is purposely refusing to do any work. They say if they keep at him all he says is bye bed time, even though he's not tired. And when I get him he's not tired. He has a brilliant sleeping routine where he goes to bed at 7 and gets up at 7 the next morning.
I have to teach him everything at home, and he has no issues with understanding or completing work at home. The environment at home is noisy with lots of different smells from people cooking, but this doesn't annoy him. He sits and finishes all his work without getting up.
I have taken him to other activities in other schools as part of a learning program which included arts and crafts. There was loads more children, noise etc and he completed the work.
I have taken him to sensory classes to see was there any sensory issues. He loves paint, foam, sand, water, food materials and has no issues with anything.
I also took him to a children's party and no issues with lights, music, noise and played with other children.
Why won't my child participate in any class activities, even though he has the understanding and no fine motor skill issues, or sensory issues?
