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I am provide Summer Care for School age children only.Yesterday I got a call from a mom with a 14 year old needing childcare.She said that she is developmentally delayed, and has the maturity level of about a 10 year old. I asked if she would be able to participate in field trips and other activities with no problem. Mom said she would be fine. I told her that we would have to meet and see if they are a good fit. I have a listed home child care, so there aren't really any regulations on ages. Not any I know of anyway. What do you guys think of this? Be honest. What would some of your concerns be going into this situation?
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I would be open minded, and have an interview and then go from there. My brother is two years younger then myself (now he's 24) But developmentally he's still between the age of 10-15 mentally. He just hasn't "grown up" as fast as I have I guess. Hope all goes well and good luck! Her age may have just run a bit too fast for her too
And if you feel that her delays may not fit into your program, don't feel bad, and just be honest and tell them it won't be a great fit.
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I'd want to meet with the parents and get more information. I don't have a tremendous amount of experience with special needs, but I've had one daycare child with some delays and I have a nephew with serious delays, and in either case they would have been fine with a group of school agers only. But again, it depends on the individual situation.Comment
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I would interview.
My teenager has delays but fits in just fine in all activities he is required to participate in and chooses to participate in.
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My first thought is to ask for specifics on what her delays are and make sure you know what you are dealing with. I would think its perhaps a Downs Syndrome sort of situation. But I would make sure whatever it is that is going on, that this girl could do the basic things for herself in order to fit in with the program. Feed and toilet independently. Make sure you know her medical needs....any medication? wheelchair? What about social situations? Is she aggressive to others or self harming? Can she be trusted to stay with the group in public or will she wander off if not given one on one attention? Just some things to consider. My friend ran a very large summer program for school agers and had several parents say that their child was just a little delayed....and then it turned out to be kids that were partially paralyzed, one needed tube feeding, one needed their diaper changed and that sort of thing. It is unfair to providers when parents try to gloss over the real demands of their special needs children. One of the providers here had someone request that a child with paralysis be left on a couch in front of a TV all day (meaning no one else could go outside for the whole summer!). anyway, just ask questions. request this girl come with her parents to the interview.Comment
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