Do You Explain....

[daycare]

I am going to be taking a dcb age 3 that is severely speech delayed. The parents have had him tested and evaluated and I am being told that he has the speech abilities of a 15 month old.

I have worked with children with delays in the past, but never in a group care setting. While I am confident that I will do well with this child, how do I handle it with the rest of the group? Obviously, the other kids in care are going to ask or question why the child can't talk.

I don't want the new boy to feel different, so what would be a good way to approach this with all of the kids?

thanks for your thoughts and advise

[NeedaVaca]

I don't know that it will be as big of an issue as you think. I have had speech delays (severe) in my group and they really don't find it a big deal. I do work more with those kiddos doing a lot of narrative play, finger play, modeling etc and the kids kind of help (in their own way). I introduce signs and the other DCK's pick it up as well and think it's fun/neat to learn. We do picture books of 1st words and the older kids do it with us sometimes because it encourages the speech delayed child.

[daycare]

I don't know that it will be as big of an issue as you think. I have had speech delays (severe) in my group and they really don't find it a big deal. I do work more with those kiddos doing a lot of narrative play, finger play, modeling etc and the kids kind of help (in their own way). I introduce signs and the other DCK's pick it up as well and think it's fun/neat to learn. We do picture books of 1st words and the older kids do it with us sometimes because it encourages the speech delayed child.

thanks so much for your feed back. I guess I am a little worried that the other kids might make him feel different and that is the last thing that I would ever want to happen.

I won't say anything about it and see how it goes. Thank you for your advise.

[hope]

My DD had severe speech delays. At the age of 3 she only said a few words. She understood everything that was said to her. We encouraged her to express herself in other ways. She became very creative and other children enjoyed her creativity. She would act out words and use pictures to explain what she wanted to say.
When other children ask questions, and they will, explain that this child is still learning how to talk. Explain that we are not all born know owing how to read and write or have math skills and that we all learn at different speeds. Point out the child's skills like their great art work or how fast they can run. Many children with view other children with delays as babyish. Try to always remind them that this child is a big kid and should be talked to and treated as such.

[butterfly]

I don't know that it will be as big of an issue as you think. I have had speech delays (severe) in my group and they really don't find it a big deal. I do work more with those kiddos doing a lot of narrative play, finger play, modeling etc and the kids kind of help (in their own way). I introduce signs and the other DCK's pick it up as well and think it's fun/neat to learn. We do picture books of 1st words and the older kids do it with us sometimes because it encourages the speech delayed child.

I agree that the kids probably won't even view it as an issue - unless we as adults model it as an issue. Just include him as anyone else and make sure you aren't commenting on his limited speech infront of the other children. I'm sure they will welcome him in with open arms. Kids are so much better at this than we are as adults.

[MarinaVanessa]

I doubt that it'll be a problem, I'd be more worried about the adults asking the questions. You can always just tell the children that he's shy and doesn't talk much or just say that all children are different and that DCB just talks differently than they do. That should be enough of an explanation.

[sharlan]

You may find that they try talking for the one who isn't.

We had that issue with my dh's niece. She really didn't talk when we got custody so my youngest dd (same age) starting talking for her. We really had to work on my dd to let niece try. Now, at 34, our niece can't stop talking for 30 secs.

[NeedaVaca]

I doubt that it'll be a problem, I'd be more worried about the adults asking the questions. You can always just tell the children that he's shy and doesn't talk much or just say that all children are different and that DCB just talks differently than they do. That should be enough of an explanation.

Very true! My DS has apraxia and I find it much more difficult explaining to the parents than the DCK's The kids have zero problems with it!

[daycare]

that is very true about the adult. Children are much more accepting than adults are. I will just let things play out and of course make him feel right at home.

thanks for all of your support....

[SSWonders]

I've had several children with speech issues over the years. I have two now. Each has a speech therapist that comes once a week. The only thing the other children ever notice is there is a super cool new person in the room to play. None of them have ever said anything about the child's actual speech.

[daycare]

Ive been thinking about this and was wondering, if parents do ask questions about it, what am I allowed to say. I am sure that there must be some privacy act ?????

[daycarediva]

Very true! My DS has apraxia and I find it much more difficult explaining to the parents than the DCK's The kids have zero problems with it!

I had a dck with apraxia and other delays here for 18+ months and the kids never batted an eye. The parents, however, did ask questions. Because of confidentiality, I only disclosed that a child in the group would be receiving therapy services during the day so that they knew someone else would be coming into my home.

[thetoddlerwhisper]

Ive been thinking about this and was wondering, if parents do ask questions about it, what am I allowed to say. I am sure that there must be some privacy act ?????

i have 2 children now who are delayed one with just speech the other is very severely delayed. the kids treat them normal and other parents have mentioned it to me. "i can tell your have a rough day with ___ do you need me to stick around for a few" they know we have early intervention coming in and tend to encourage their kiddo to help our friends, but i never mentioned their problems the other parents just pick up on the situation. if they ask i just say i cant share that information but maybe his mother would be willing to talk with you

[MarinaVanessa]

Ive been thinking about this and was wondering, if parents do ask questions about it, what am I allowed to say. I am sure that there must be some privacy act ?????

If another parent does ask you then yes you are bound by privacy laws. If they are curious and ask just be polite and say something like
"Well, because of privacy laws I cannot talk about medical or developmental issues of the children to other parents but if you're curious you can always ask Little Johnny's mom. She'd be able to tell you whether or not he has any issues.

I highly doubt they'd ask the other parent directly and still you'd say your peace and make it clear that you aren't going to say anything about it. If they still ask again just say "Sorry, can't talk about that with you" each time they ask again.

I've had a parent go as far as to give me brochures to give to another parent for their speech delayed son who was already getting speech therapy through his school . Of course this parent didn't know that because I couldn't tell them so instead of taking the brochures I just suggested that she give them to DCM herself. She never did.

[Maria2013]

sorry I can't help you, in my group the kids are used to being among those that talk good, and those that don't talk at all, I don't think they would judge cause of someone's age