Some General Questions (cm Asking)

[MUM2BLESS]

1. How can I help with 2 yrs old who has speech problems. His mother tongue is not English. Been with me a couple of months. Not saying much in either language.

1. I have a 5 yr old who now comes only in hols. Not been in ages. Still got learning journals and display folders with art work in. Due to hand over in Aug. Thinking do I ask parents if they still need my service, if not hand over now or do I wait until august. They have not officially said they did not need my any more.

1. What do yo do with mindee who spend a short time with you in each session? I have a 8 yr old less than an hour am and less than one and half hours pm. Does not came every day. I want to make it interesting for her but somethings I cannot do much ,as she is not with me long enough. i think it is. Would love to take her to the library etc but not enough time.

Thanks for your time

1. just keep chatting away and singing lots of songs.
2. not sure
3. I think at 8 you can prob ask her what she wants to do.

1. The 2 year old probably doesn't have speech problems, not at this age. He is bilingual so probably, although not necessarily, will be a little slower to talk. However, even if he wasn't, I wouldn't start to worry about a child's speech and language until he were about 3.

Don't go finding problems that don't exist And, yes, lots of songs, stories, talking to him - just your usual practice.

1. I would give the folder at the end of the child's foundation stage.
2. Agree - ask her! At this age, she's quite capable of telling you what she likes to do and your job, imo, should be to help her learn to be independent and not rely on an adult's efforts to keep her amused. Facilitate, by all means, but you'll run yourself ragged if you try to be an entertainments manager and the chances are, she won't want to do any of it anyway (speaking from bitter experience of my very first 9 year old mindee ).

It's very normal for eal children to go through a passive silent phase when learning a new language. They will be absorbing lots of vocabulary but not yet feeling confident to use it. Continue to provide lots of opportunities to develop language just as you would any other 2 yr old and one day they will start to use the words themselves. It can take a while but it will happen in their own time.

For the eal child I would be assessing his understanding rather than his physical speech. Use lots of pictures to bridge the gap. This can be used then as a two way communication tool. You can show him the pic and say English word he can tell you his home language word. You can also ask him to find pic in English and check his understanding. He will be absorbing English right now and may well surprise you soon!

5 year old I would approach now and offer files. They should have been passed on for schools to look at (although not many schools do!)

Thanks to everyone.

1. Will try the stories and singing as he understands more than what he says. I sometimes ask where certain things are and he will show me.

Tanith- Don't go finding problems that don't exist I would never say a child has a speech problem, myself, as I am not qualified to do that. He went for some type of check up and the person recognized some speech delay. That not my place to do that. I have noticed that he makes noises rather than speaking things out. As I do not have English as an additional language I do not have the knowledge relating to this. Mum wants him to learn English, and speaks to him to both languages. Its probably just taking time to learn both. Love the ideas given about using pics.

1. I will perhaps ask parents if they want her folders now, as she is not really coming to me any more or if they want me to hold unto it until August, allowing them an input into the decision I am making Thanks

1. I will ask her what she wants to do. I do provide a wide range of activities for the kids.

4 Child in another setting I am updating my policies right now. In the past I had within my policy that I would charge full fee etc. Did not go down too well !! I am looking at charging half fee as I am on call if needed. Just wanted to know what other cm do? full, half or no charge whilst child is in another setting. Which ever one you went for did it go down well? Your thoughts please

But that's exactly what you did say "How can I help 2 yrs old with speech problems?"

Glad you recognise that it's not a speech problem - maybe your OP didn't read as you'd intended?

Child in another setting, I'm guessing you mean Preschool.
If they're in the u5 ratio and attending preschool when they'd normally be with me, I'd charge full fee.

Yes Tanith that's what I wrote, your right, maybe I should have explained myself a bit better!!!

Its not really a problem, but an area which needs developing if I can put it that way

Thanks for your comments Tanith much appreciated