This afternoon I worked in playgroup 1-1 with a child with Downs Syndrome he is wonderful and is 2.5 years but is more like a 12 to 18 month old, this child has been coming for approx 6 weeks for 2 2 and half hour sessions a week. The last three sessions he has found it hard to settle, I suspect that he has realised that mum has gone so cries a lot lot lot on and off for the session. Once he settles to something he is ok, anyway today he came in lovely big smiles etc. After regester he starts wailing and crying I get him settled with cars and I start to move away slowly.
Next I am asked by setting leader to make mothers day cards with him which I reply "Yes ok but if he will".
She replys "He has to make one you can't
leave his mum out if he won't you do it for him"
This is something I will not do so I agued back ad sais "But his mum doesnt want a card off me so I will do it with him now"
He screamed and cried but he stuck a vase and a flower onto the card.
I was cross then but managed to calm him a bit then all of a sudden we had huge tears and I was told
"Leave him alone and let him cry he has got to learn"
Reluctantly I left him screaming but everything in my head and heart said no no no this was wrong after 10 mins I could not hack it I picked him up and we went for a walk.
This did not calm him and it took 30mins plus to calm him down.
AIBU to think that leaving a child who was so upset, who needs such careful handeling and who is developmentally like a 12 month old to cry is terrible?