What do preschools normally do with children who already know letters, numbers etc. but aren't very sociable

[chipmunkswhereareyou]

I have one like this. I'm sure there are a few in each preschool class and certainly don't think he's a mini genius or anything. However I suspect he's not the norm. I'm not here to go on about what he can do academically as it's a bit dull for anyone who isn't me and his dad!

Anyway, he's 3.3 and started at a primary school's nursery this term. I'm curious, in advance of ds's parents evening thing where the staff will go through their 'plan' for him, as to what the norm is with a child like this.

Would it be to focus solely on his socialising or to do that plus learning other things too - maybe learning to read or whatever?

I'm curious as to what other preschools do with children like this who don't, ime, fit with the norm which might be to be more sociable than ds is but perhaps to not be quite so far on with the academic side of things. What would be most beneficial to him?

[bubblagirl]

my ds knows letters and numbers and shapes he knew them at 2 was diagnosed with high functioning autism at 3

they work on him interacting with other children he still sits and does same things as other children such as numbers letters and shapes as i think this is the standard thing to teach regardless does he speak well and interact well with others?

[LynetteScavo]

At DSs nursery they didn't teach numbers/ letters etc. He just played. By himself mostly, but he was very happy.

[chipmunkswhereareyou]

Hi Bubbla - he interacts very well with adults and his speech is excellent now so no problems there. He's just more interested in adults - probably partly because he's an only child (although we sent him to a day nursery part time at 1 to ensure he hung out with other kids)

[PandaG]

in the preschool i work in we would play games etc to encourage turn taking and joining in. Would also do lots of craft stuff - encourcge scissor skills for example but alos the sheer joy of experimenting with colour/learning what type of glue to stick different materials/maybe big paintings or constructions done a s a group again to encourage participation and sharing.

if child interested would also encourage mark making - writing own name, familiar words.

matching, colour sorting, knowledge and understanding of the world - anything children interested in form dinosaurs to Autumn etc

[chipmunkswhereareyou]

tbh I'm quite surprised that they seem to want to do an individual plan for each child - generally a good thing and I'm sure it'll be balanced with loads of playing, social skills stuff etc.

[PandaG]

Early Years Foundation Stage insists we plan individually for each child. the plans will include social skills type stuff as is one of the strands of the 'curriculum' ie Personal social and emotional.

[peanutbutterkid]

Most preschool time is spent sticking, colouring (ideally within the lines), cutting out pieces of paper, painting, building, learning to talk about what they think and understand, talking about and understanding the world around us, working on fine motor skills in other ways. Gross motor skills development, too. Very little is about learning to read numbers/letters.

There's plenty new things for a child who already knows numbers/letters to do in preschool.

[nolongeraworriedmummy]

my dd did a program called its time to talk in which they did activities with her with a small group of children she was confortable-iah with in order to develop her social skills.

[chipmunkswhereareyou]

Will be very happy peanut if that's how he spends his day - I think the whole thing with them seemingly assessing his skills this week has started me down this path of thinking nursery is more about letters, numbers etc. more than perhaps it is or should be.

I was impressed by the individual planning thing though. I do think it's a good idea as long as it isn't overly focused or stressing parents and staff out.

[MollieO]

At my ds's nursery they did a mix of letters/numbers/reading/writing etc plus social skills (playing and sharing with others - doing tasks in groups and pairs) and practical life skills.