How To Handle This?

[Ariana]

But what's actually wrong with that, Ariana?

And, are you expecting to be able to force him to play the way the other children do?

So what? You're letting his unorthodox style of play make you miserable, and by fighting him, you're making him miserable, so he in turn makes you more miserable.

It sounds like this child might need a program with more flexibility so his developmental issues can be addressed. I'm seeing some resentment toward this child in what you're saying. I don't know if his needs can be met and your happiness can thrive the way things are going right now.

I have no resentment towards this child, I am simply looking for suggestions that match his developmental level. I think we are getting way off track. My original question is what to do when he dissolves into tears when I leave him to play on his own. I am fine with him rolling his cars around and around but even he gets bored with that because its not actual playing. He rolls the stroller around the dollhouse and the other children get upset with him.

I have all sorts of wheels, gears etc. He has no clue how to play with those things. I show him and he watches and then goes back to rolling his car on the ground. I have a large road play mat, parking garage, race track with bridge and he does not play with any of it. He just lies on the ground rolling his car back and forth. Some of the suggestions here are no where near his developmental level. He does not play with duplo or blocks no matter how many times we have played with them together! If I am not right there attending to him he either dissolves into tears (not ok with that) or rolls his car on the ground (made my peace with that when cars are available). I am not bringing cars upstairs. I would prefer a child to learn developmentally appropriate styles of play. He is here to have different experiences and learn new things. He is already being catered to at home.

How is this any different from teaching a child to sleep appropriately by weaning them off the crutches the parents have set up? I am trying to expand this childs play repertoire but his development is below where it should be in my opinion and his lack of language makes it hard for him to interact with peers. I have already expanded his vocabulary by about 100 words just in the few months he has been here. My goal is to enrich his life.

I will try some of the ideas given here this week and see how it goes