Anyone else got a more sensitive child?

[Jennnieeee9]

My eldest is 3, turns 4 next week so he'll be heading to school next September. Its a while away but when I think of it I get so worried.

He has a speech delay. So chatty but very muddled up. I can understand him most but people still look at me to translate. On waiting list for SALT

He's getting more confident but he is still more of a quieter child. I beam when he tells me names of kids in pre school he plays with! But I notice they'll leave and shout him and he smiles but hides

He still has lots of meltdowns. Doesnt like some sounds so I have ear defenders now.

Social things we take slow as he used to just melt down. He's getting better with these too

I just wondered does anyone else have a child thats a bit more on the sensitive side. How did you deal with school? How do you help them I want to start so I know how to prepare him next year

I hope you don't mind me putting on a comment. Have you spoken to the pre-school about how your son is getting on? Developmentally do they have any concerns? Does he play alongside other children or on his own? Is he better with adults than other children?
My youngest was very similar, especially with the speech delay but he was diagnosed with autism before he started school. The speech therapists were the first professionals to suggest ASD.
It may be worth you speaking to the preschool and asking for a meeting with the SEN co-ordinator to make sure they are supporting him as much as they can and if they feel he is not developing in line with his peers I would suggest you request a referral through your GP for an assessment for any additional needs. It is always useful to be on the lists and when the appointment comes through which can take years, if there are no concerns and he is doing well at school then thats great, but if by then there are bigger concerns at least you are on the waiting list.

The speech delay and other issues you mention could be linked to the speech and hearing issues but could also be indicative of autism so i wanted to mention that so that you are doing everything you can now to speak to the preschool about support and taking it further if you need to.

Me, he’s now 15 but was once a very shy, very sensitive August baby who I sent to school at just turned 4 when he was literally just out of nappies & wasn’t talking a year prior.
When he started school he had no interest in other children at all, just liked lining his trains up, doing little stories with them & other the kids were just a bit in the way for him. After starting school I tried to get him involved in team sports, he once said during a football match “it’s my turn to kick the ball now” didn’t get it was a game type situation & every child for themselves, he loved the stand on the red cone run to the blue cone type stuff but the bedlam & noise of a free for all was not for him, all too overwhelming.
School was brilliant for him. He made one or 2 key friends in the early days with shared interests. The more time he spent in school with others, he kind of gradually learnt the ways of others & has even taken up team sports, started around age 9. He’s never been one for a big group of people, still chooses now to surround himself with one or 2 friends who share his values & vibes than be in a massive gaggle. He has only just got the hang of just “being” with his friends, he used to always need a purpose, when they were just at the park, not playing football etc just sitting & chatting he would just come home because everyone else was “boring”. But the other day he went for a walk around the estate with his pals so he’s getting there.

Sorry for the long comment, but I just want to reassure you that they don’t need to be loud, or super confident or even great at interacting at that age. Because they are amazing little humans who are growing into whoever they are going to be & even the most sensitive, quiet individuals can find their tribe & become the most wonderful big people who are truly happy within themselves.

Both my sensitive dc are now referred for ASD/ ADHD assessment. I handle it with school by meeting each of their teachers once a term to agree a plan of adjustments they will make to support my dc in school eg sensory breaks, ear defenders, fidget toys etc.

I was one as was my eldest - both turned out fine! Speech delay can impact on socialising/ confidence. Don’t try to push him into situations where he clearly isn’t comfortable, but take it at his pace, encourage play dates with 1 or 2 quieter children or children he mentions especially if they are moving into the same reception class. Speech therapy is key. Make sure his hearing has been checked. Some children just take a little longer to develop, some will always be quiet and nothing wrong with that as long as he is happy and developing!