I was just informed by by son's child care provider that she thinks he may be not be devolping. She told me that he says sentences and words that she and his other teacher do not understand all teh time and that he is "sensitive." Heis sensitive because he greets all the parents and kids as they come to class, and he doesn't like to be touched sometimes. He does speak in audible snetences most of the time. He was alate talker, as I was when I was his age. He is an only child at the moment and hasn't really been around a lot of his peers until now. I admit that I was a bit upset with this "diagnosis." His doctor has never said that he had any developmental issues. Should I be alarmed? Any suggestions?
Is the child care provider a mature woman who raised her own children and has been caring for other children for many years, or just some girl at the day care center who took a community college class on child development and now thinks she's Dr. Spock? It's been my experience that mothers often know better than the self-appointed "experts" who offer unsolicited "diagnoses" about their children.
I agree you should make an appintment with his doctor. I don't always think that they have to follow exactly all the developmental rules. Some kids are just different and go at a different pace either faster or slower. What is your gut feeling on it? I think that moms have the 6th sense and know what is going on better with their kids than anyone. Good luck.
K.
I agree that you should talk to his doctor first. He/she is much better qualified to diagnois a problem. Like you said, he is an only child and has not spent alot of time around other children.
Did he have colic as a baby? I have heard that children who had colic are sometime more sensative to stimulus (sound, light, touch) then other children.
The most important thing you can do is follow you instincts about him.
Hi CS.
I'm an OT and work around (and sometimes with) a lot of "sensitive" kids. That, in itself, is NOT a diagnosis, because plenty of children can show sensory sensitivities (I was extremely sensitive to sound, as a child, and I acted "shy" (refused to talk) around loud people, or in loud situations).
I work with an Autistic boy who is less "sensitive" than plenty of, "normal" kids at my school.
As some of the other gals said: if you have a bad gut feeling, and the teacher was just the person who made you "snap" to it: take him to see the pediatrican.
Otherwise, I wouldn't worry. Seems like so many people are ready to hand out bad news.
Best wishes!
T
I wouldn't take that as a "diagnosis". My son was hard to understand at 3 1/2 to until he got around a lot of other children his age. Now he is speaking just fine and is absolutely normal. I think it is great that he greets all the parents and kids that enters the room- shows he is a little gentleman. In regards to being sensitive to touch, some people just don't like to be touched. I have a daughter that is developmentally delayed and not talking yet and can not do most things that kids are doing at her age (she is almost 2). If it bothers you that this person said this, I would bring this up to your doctor and see what his opinion is on the subject. I believe the teacher should have stated it a little bit differently than she did if she has a concern. Again, I would speak to your pediatrician and if he feels there is a need for concern he will direct you to visit a developmental pediatrician. Best of luck.
Talk to your pediatrician. Schedule two appointment slots for a full developmental evaluation. They'll let you know if there's anything to be concerned about.
