Lunch Room Issues

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-18-2006
Lunch Room Issues
3
Mon, 08-27-2007 - 2:58pm

Emma continues to struggle in the lunch room. It seems to me that she doesn't quite know how to get the attention of her peers and so she slaps them. Seems logical to me. ;) School is understanding, but unable to give her a special group to eat with in a quiet area. School is also unable to give her a one to one during lunch. The social worker is going to work with her, but with only 30 minutes a week, they can only work on one thing at a time. Currently they are working on those things that affect her (and her peers') learning. How to I teach an only child proper etiquette in a large lunch room without actually eating lunch with her every day?

She's quickly getting the reputation of the problem child that no one wants to be friends with.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Mon, 08-27-2007 - 3:25pm

To your school. Get your butt up there and demand more time. Only one thing at a time my A$$!. If they can't give your child what she needs then they have to figure out how to help you get it. If she has an IEP that says she needs to recive XYZ, like a Behavior plan, then they have to abide by this.

There should be a plan of action in place. Your daughter should not be slapping people. But the fact is she is, and they need to help you figure out how to solve the issue.
You are paying school taxes for this. Maybe she needs a safe haven for lunch, maybe the lunch room is over whelming for her and is too much to handle. maybe She can eat with her teacher or in a quiet area, I know isolation is not good, but over whelming is not good either.

BUt together you need to get the district help you get her help. And if not then they may need to help you find and pay for a place that does.
Good luck. Start learning to be the advocate now. It is a life long process that we all take. Because as they get older so do we and so do the issues.

Rina

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-25-2007
Mon, 08-27-2007 - 4:59pm
I totally agree with Rina. The school has to step in and find a solution for this, whether it's finding her a "lunch Buddy" or creating a special table or whatever fits her needs. At our school, the counselor hosts something called "The Lunch Bunch". She uses it as a way to integrate children with social issues, children who are new to the school and haven't made alot of friends yet and regular peers. Everyone is allowed to pick one buddy to go with them. It's very popular with the kids and the kids all love to be "invited". When we first moved to town my NT daughter was invited as a new student and now my Aspie son goes regularly. Lots of little things like this can make a huge difference. Good luck!
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-12-2005
Mon, 08-27-2007 - 5:03pm

Is there anyway that her teacher can get one of her classmates or another child to be her Lunch Buddy? If another child, who was familiar with the fact these types of situations are hard for her, were able to stay with her through lunch it might be a very big help for her.


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