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Rank: Newbie
Joined: 8/8/2010
Posts: 3
Points: 9
Location: Arkansas
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Hi Everyone,
I am the mother of two precious, sweet little girls age 3 and 5. My 5 year old has a speech delay, and has been in speech therapy for almost two years. Her speech is getting alot better, but there are still a few things you can't understand. (Which is a BIG improvement from where she was 2 years ago, when there pretty much was only a few words we could understand). My three year old however, still talks better than my 5 year old does.
The concern I have for my 5 year old is that she is two weeks away from starting Kndergarten, and I am a nervous wreck about it. She is a very amrt little girl. She can write her name, she knows all her shapes, and colors, and can even spell a few short words (like dog, cat, ball) the only thing she seems to be behind on is her speech. I am so worried to send her to school. I have so many different things running through my head like, what if she gets sick, but her teacher Can't understand her when she tells her that she isn't feeling well, or what if she doesn't make any freinds, and spends all day alone and miserable. She is painfully shy, and when she doesn't know someone her speech is a lot worse, than what it is when she is comfortable with someone.
So, I guess what my question is, is how do WE as parents send our kids off to school not knowing if they are going to be ok. I almost feel evil sending her somewhere that may make her feel overwhelmed or uncormfortable. Evrytime I think of her starting school, I see her setting in a corner somewhere crying, and not being able to tell anone why. Or if the teacher is mean to her, she won't really be able to let me know. I may be over reacting, but if anyone could share there experience of their childrens first time at school I would really appreciate it, and hopefully it will help ease my mind about sending her to school.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 4/23/2004
Posts: 216
Points: 510
Location: Wisconsin
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I meet with my child's teacher every year before school starts to make sure she completely understands his areas of weakness and for her to have a chance to ask me any questions. I would call the school first thing in the morning tomorrow and set up a meeting. I have found that the teachers are more than happy to talk with me and are glad someone has told them what is going on BEFORE the first day of school. If they are aware of what to watch for, it makes the teacher's day easier too. I also arrange for my child to meet the teacher before the first day - see where his locker is and meet her. That way she is not a stranger to him. Additionally I write a letter of introduction to each teacher he will have explaining his different needs - this goes to the art teacher, the music teacher, the gym teacher, etc. You would be surprised at how many have written me back to thank me for making them aware of his circumstances.
Then each day for the first couple of weeks, I make sure that I pick him up from school and speak to his teacher directly about how his day went (any concerns that she had or what she saw that went well). Once I feel like things are going well, I back off and check in just weekly. I again state how much I appreciate her understanding and her assistance and make sure that she is aware that she may contact me at any time with concerns or questions.
I come from a family of teachers - I am the only person who actually is not an elementary or secondary teacher. I know that each one of them has said to me how helpful it is to them when a parent comes to them prior to the start of school to fill them in on any type of situation. It only makes their job easier when they don't have to guess at what is going on. I have yet to have a teacher tell me I was giving them too much information or tell me I didn't need to check in. All have gone above and beyond what they needed to do, when I let them know what was going on prior to them actually getting my child in the classroom.
Call her school in the morning and set up an appointment. Let us know what they said to you. You will feel a lot better about sending her to school if you know the teacher and know that she will be keeping an eye out for your daughter.
Best wishes, kelly
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Rank: Newbie
Joined: 8/9/2010
Posts: 1
Points: 3
Location: toronto ontario canada
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hi my daughter is turning 4 in less than 2weeeks and she starts school in september im very worried because she doesnt talk like other kids her age and ive talked to my doctor but he keeps saying since she was 18mths old o she will grow out of it some kids are walkers and some are talkers he says this because my daughter was walking by 7mths old we have trouble understanding her here at home most everyone cant understand her and well a friend suggested we get a pet to help her verbalize more so we did (a dog) i have to admit it has helped alittle but still im worried she will be 4 soon and she is just now stating to use 3 word sentences
she is my first and only child and i was yonge when i had her and im starting to feel like its all my fault ive tried everything flash cards play dates which she completly ignores the other children she will play for a bit but usually she goes off on her own after 10 or 15 minutes the flash cards work while there in front of her but she usually cant remember the card the next day she wont count to ten on her own she adds extra sounds to the sentences she does use which makes it harder to understand she will point or do hand signals when she wants something i wont give her anything till she says the word for it ie water juice cookie but even than i can see she is having a hard time remembering the right word
ive gone to many doctors and they all ssay o she will grow out of it but how would they know when she wont talk to them actually she wont say a word to u if she doesnt kno u. and here in canada u cant get a speech terapist with out a refferal im at a loss please help!
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Rank: Newbie
Joined: 7/28/2010
Posts: 1
Points: 3
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hi
have you tried the toronto speech and language service. don't have its info here but look them up on line. also ask your doctor for the referral. it is true that many of the speech therapists you have to pay privately. if you get a referral makes sure you like the speech pathologist and believe she understands your child..sadly too many are not great matches for every child! talk to your doctor and or look up the toronto speech and language services. also if your daughter is going into kindergarten then ask the teacher-or principal about resources through the school. i know it is hard..we have a 4 year old who struggles with speech and language too.
keep with it!
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Rank: Newbie
Joined: 7/8/2010
Posts: 3
Points: 9
Location: Illinois
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Dear Worried,
This is a very tough transition to go thru; and it is absolutely natural to feel what you are feeling, I worried about all the same things and so few happened. I agree with the other mom that talking to the teacher is key and also if your daughter has an IEP, ask the teacher to please review it before school starts. My son is starting 6th grade this year and I do this with every teacher every year.... Another thing I found helpful is I volunteered in the classroom, I don't know if you work, but it was really helpful for me to meet the kids, watch him interact with everyone, and see how his teacher treated him. It gave me a lot of peace and I think him, too. He knew if he had a problem, I was there and could address it immediately. Despite Logan's speech problems, he made so many great friends and loved school! Just remember ALL the kids are new and they all have differences. Also I found at that age, all the kids were so nice to each other and his whole class was friends.... No one teased him or said he talked funny, etc. It wasn't him spending all day alone and miserable - that was me at home :) without him :)
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Rank: Member
Joined: 9/19/2006
Posts: 10
Points: 33
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Logansmom,
How was you son's communication skills in 2nd grade? Did he have expressive and receptive laguage problems or just expressive? How is his attention span and eye contact? Thanks for any information that you can provide of your son.
thanks,
Jbrown
jbrown
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Rank: Newbie
Joined: 8/8/2010
Posts: 3
Points: 9
Location: Arkansas
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To mom2payton, and Logansmom, Thank you so much for the advice. I have set up a time to meet with her teacher on Monday. And, I am a stay at home mom, so I will also take your advice, and see if I can do any kind of volunteer work at the school. Thank you again, you have eased my mind and made me feel a lot better about sending my daughter to school.
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