• Replies 3 replies
  • Subscribers 65 subscribers
  • Views 1116 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Hi Im new and scared about preschool

TJ

Hi, I have a lovely 3 and half boy who was diagnosed with Autism last year, he is still nonverbal but has a passive nature and is quite sensitive. He has been going to a childminder since 16 months but I have been pressured that I should try preschool. I have found a lovely one and been for a couple of sessions with him and he starts in June whilst still going to childminder some days. I am just so worried about it and how he will cope as he gets very overwhelmed with noise of other kids and not being able to speak at all makes life difficult. He also has hypermobility in nearly all his joints so cannot do a lot of things like ride a trike etc. I feel mean as 4 days of the week he will be attending childminder plus preschool and I know he will have to go to school nxt yr but wake every morning feeling anxious. We are on our own so have a v close bond but if he still isnt speaking by primary school how will he cope? What if hes bullied? I know it seems all negative thoughts but am finding it hard to deal with. He never grasped Makaton but does use photo visual cards when he is desperate for something. Any success stories would be much appreciated

  • Hi TJ. Just to add that at 3 and a half your little boy still has huge scope for starting to speak! I have worked with many children this age who started speaking during  music therapy, so considering he has ASD he is not late at all. 

  • Hi Tandemum

    Thanks so much for this it does make me feel better about preschool.  Although not a special needs one it is in a small village and is nice and new with lots of space for him and the staff are very keen and willing which is a refreshing change..  I am hoping it will improve his social skills but i suppose if he doesnt get on I just take him out again! Maybe I should stop worrying about Primary school for the moment but you cant help it can you and I never really believe that schools can stop bullying and a lot of it still goes on.  it is hard with the hypermobility as well as this makes them behind with every day skills as well.

    Thanks a lot again for replying, its so nice to talk to others and hear their ideas as I have nobody near me that I know with a similar child and others say they understand but you cant unless it happens to you.

    TJ

  • Hi TJ,

    Your son sounds very similar to my eldest son at that age.  He was non-verbal and did not speak until over 4 years old.  He was also passive, sensitive and didn't like the noise of other children.  I was also pressured into sending him to preschool, but I managed to get him into a preschool attached to a local special needs school. I was worried that would mean that he had to go to that school but they only take those that can't cope with mainstream schooling.  It also meant that he started Primary school with a statement which was a huge help.  My son also has hypermobile joints and the nursery were able to help him use trikes, run without falling over, walk in a straight line.  My son attended nursery five mornings a week, which was a huge change from being home full time but after half a term he was happy to go.

    It was wonderful for him.  When he first went he wasn't toilet trained, didn't speak and was very frustrated.  He didn't like using Makaton but could understand the signs which helped him understand what we were saying to him. He spent one year in this nursery and he blossomed.  When he left he was able to speak three and four word sentences.  He was toilet trained and had got used to being in a school environment.  Today, he still talks about how much he enjoyed his nursery and that was five years ago.

    We didn't have a problem with bullying at preschool but it did become an issue at Primary school.  I think part of that was that he went from being one of the more able at preschool to being one of the least able at school and that was a big adjustment for him.  To be honest school didn't work for him and we started home educating him after two terms  at school. 

    I think with hind sight I wasn't firm enough with the school and believed what they told me even when it didn't sound right (if you know what I mean).  If there is a problem with bullying then there are a lot of outside agencies that schools can call on like educational psychology, NAS, Integrated Disability Service who can go into the school and provide support.

    You know your son better that any one else so you know what is right for him.  Don't let other people, even professionals, tell you you are wrong.

    Hope this helps.