Starting Kindergarten help please...
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| Thu, 08-23-2007 - 11:21am |
I haven't posted here in a long time because I keep getting different dx's for my daughter and wasn't sure I belonged here. Now we have no dx at all, but she still gets services because she has "something". Something, apparently undescribable at this time, but highly similar to AS IMO.
So, my daughter will be turning 5 next Tuesday, making her the youngest Kindergartener in the school (as well as having social delays and other issues). She just started Kindy this past Tuesday and our stress level is a little high. She got home yesterday and spent 3 hours alternately crying/stimming or passing out for brief naps. At 7:00 she put herself to bed one hour early (especially strange because we've been having the same "I can't go to sleep it's still light out" argument since the time change). This morning she drug her feet over breakfast for so long she missed the bus and then had a meltdown when she found out I still planned for her to go to school. After a round of joint compressions to calm her down following a hairbrushing disaster and a chat about why she didn't like school we headed out and I had a quick talk with the teacher.
Now, I'm having troubles figuring out how to proceed to make this a success. I don't want to be Overprotective Mom and create ways that she's further singled out. I also don't want to leave her with the impression that she's out there 8 hours a day without my support. So, here are my questions about dealing with school...
1. How involved are you in the day to day functioning of your child at school? Do you pop in to observe regularly? Do you try to micromanage decisions about how to handle behavior issues in the classroom? Do you feel comfortable seeking out counselors and therapists that treat your child when you hear something from the child that is concerning or confusing?
2. Do you keep a highly structured home life for the child? Does it help? We're relying heavily on picture agendas for different times of the day and it seems to help, but they don't do that at school. I worry that I'm creating expectations that school can't meet and maybe making the difference between home and school too clear. KWIM? Safe, secure, predictable place vs. School.
3. Any tips on speeding up meals? My daughter is also hyperinsulinemic (hypoglycemic) and has to eat good meals for every meal or her blood sugars are all off and that doesn't help matters either. However, specifically because eating is so important that's where she's learned to drag her feet if she doesn't want to do something (like go to school). Meals often take an hour or more and I can't seem to fix that. Any suggestions?
4. Any other suggestions, tips, wisdom about helping achieve kindergarten success with a child who has AS traits?
Thanks in advance.
Mary

Hi Mary,
Wecome back.
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
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I'm in the same boat. DD started Kindergarten on Monday. We have been through several dx, and are currently working toward AS.
Before school started I sent the teacher a lengthy e-mail explaining DD's strengths and weaknesses, as well as some of the things we've tried to help with those weaknesses. Wednesday was a rough day for her with two safe seats (time out). Teacher and I have spoken by e-mail every day regarding Emma's progress. I send her an e-mail in the morning if there's something I think she needs to know, like the fact that the air went out Tuesday night, so we didn't sleep well and she was tired Wednesday. She'll e-mail me with questions about different behaviors.
I had planned to seek out the school social worker if Emma continued to struggle, however she called me today. The teacher had spoken with her about Emma and she wanted to know if it was okay if she works with Emma. I said, Of Course and we had a long chat about whre to start.
We have started using a sticker chart at home. She has the chance to earn up to three stickers a day. There is also a schedule of rewards posted next to the chart. She seems excited about this. It has worked in the past for us and I'm hopefull about it this time. I spoke with the teacher about what she would call a good day. I say a good day is a day without time out. The teacher went even easier and suggested a sticker for each half day out of time out. Today I also gave Emma a schedule for in the mornings and evenings. We'll see if it helps her. She seems excited about it. I have spoken with her teacher about how a shedule helps Emma. I'm not sure they have worked that one out yet, but I think it will happen soon.
As far as meals go I can't offer much help. I don't know if either of these are options, but I have fed her in the past and made her eat in the car on the way to school. These seemed to help. I also get Emma up early and have her eat first. This way I can get ready and possibly dress her while she eats if needed.
Welcome back to the board. We'll make it through this year together.