Is preschool the answer?

[chuckeyegg]

My 3 on Sunday DS is due to start preschool after half term. The problem is he is very speech delayed and finds relating to other children difficult. I took him to a birthday party on Sunday and he grabbed and pulled at every other child in sight and left one in tears. It's a problem that has been getting worse for a while now. I took him for a visit to the preschool and had to prise his hands off a few children.

Everyones advise is take him to preschool and let him get use to other children but I'm not sure if it will just make the problem worse or not. I'm not sure sending him is the best decision.

Anyone had a problem like this cured by preschool?

I think you need to follow your instincts and if you think he's not ready then wait.

However, does he have a speech therapist? What do they say?

A lot depends on the pre-school and how well you think they will understand his needs. A good pre-school will give him additional support with his social and communication skills and be patient with him. He may need extra one to one to start with.

They can also access additional support and assessment if they need it.

Have a good chat with them about your concerns and see what they say.

What do the preschool say? They will have some experience of these kind of issues I woud have thought? Maybe he could start but with you staying and keeping your distance as much as possible to start with?

If you don't send him to preschool is he going to mother and toddler groups etc? Or having playdates? I would have thought that exposure to other children with supervision sounds a good idea.

My DS is 3.7 and he had been at home with me until he was 3.1. He speech was delayed and his social interaction was not great (suspected ASD).

Anyway, I sent him to a school nursery at 3.1 - he did last term and is half way through this term. He is absolutely thriving, speech now assessed as in the lower part of the average band for his age and social interaction much better.

I think with a child like this, you have to look really carefully for a setting where staff are willing and able to spend time helping him with his particular issues. You have to be honest with them, explain your situation and ask if they can help you. If they can't, then fine, at least you know. One place wouldn't take my DS and at the time, I was horrified, but now I feel that I am glad he is not there, but in a school where people help him.

Thank you so much for your answers. I still keep changing my mind as to whether it's a good idea and I am thinking of leaving it until January when he will be 3.3. As much socialisation before that as I can face.

Helen x