Help - ds still not speaking much at Kindergarten

[debinaustria]

HI
We moved to Austria in 2005 when ds#2 was 3.5, he started Kindergarten then.(we speak to him in English at home) For the 1st year he had his elder brother in the same class so he only really spoke to him. Last year ds#1 moved onto school, and so without big brother's help his understanding of German came on really well, but he was still reluctant to talk. Part of this was down to lots or problems with his speech so we started seeing a Speech therapist. She works with him in English as that is his 1st language. That's going really well and I am seeing him improving slowly

But this morning at Kindergarten his teacher says he is still not talking much, either in German or English. At age 5.5 she says he must start to speak some more this year, . He does talk to his friends a little but appears reluctant to talk with the teacher. In this last year before school ds#1 was entitled to extra German lessons, I hope that ds#2 is also entitled and this will give him some more confidence.

Any advice?

Thanks

Deb

Deb
That is fab, you must be chuffed.

I think that as a mother of bilingual children we must be more insistant on giving the children time to develop. The speech therapist at my DCs Kindergarten is good but has not much experience of bilingual children. In fact, I have more experience than she has.

This is a problem that I have encountered a lot. Misinformed people, who cannot see the advantages, especially when you are bringing the child up with a low prestige language. We are lucky, English is viewed as a high prestige language and most people react well. A friend is Croatian and has been asked why she is bothering teaching her child Croatian.

I recently read some books about bilingual upbringing (bit late as my DCs are 3 and 5, but never mind) It is great to hear of other familys experiences, it helps me resist any well meaning comments.

deb, thought I'd post this for you in the hope it is encouraging news:

like I said in my first post, my ds (4) has been in nursery since january. He is bilingual at home (and we do the one parent one language thing) and he is learning the 3rd language in school. He has always been quiet in school but happy, so we were never worried, confident that he was absorbing and would tlak when ready. And I instinctively have never thought that this was the selective mutism that I had gone through. Don't ask me why - it's just a feeling . He is a much more confident child than I was, and I think that makes a difference.

Well, guess what - this morning he woke us up counting to ten repeatedly in the new language. And his teacher called me in today to get him to recite a little poem that he had learnt about a kitten (in the 3rd language). Can you imagine how proud I felt!! And it also goes to show that they just need a little time to get their heads around a new language before they start experimenting with making the new sounds. I have a feeling there'll be no stopping him now.

to debs in austria

do you know if there is a legal requirement to help a forighn child in kindergarten not having an easy time at mo

meant to try a new kindergarten on monday

ds not an easy child very demanding and needs a lot of stimulus

cupcake - The year before ds1 started Volkschule the principal there gave us a leaflet about German lessons that non German speakers were entitled to the year before starting school i.e. from age 5-6. I have asked at KG about ds2 and she said the Government has changed so they may not have the same policies, I'm going to look into it, I'll get back to you.

Deb

Princessgoddlife - fantastic news, you must be so encouraged by that

Deb

sorry for asking but dh not being terribly helpful! just wondering what the staffing levels in the KG that you use are?

thank you debs ever so much for helping

anyone else out there that might help please!!

xcupcake

Is your dh Austrian or English?

Staffing levels in KG are 2 adults to 25 children, children are aged from 3-6 and there are 3 classes.

hth

Deb

hi deb

dh is austrian

very concerned about ds
he is unsettled me too
the first kindergarten was a bad experience
and i do not know if i can place him another one just a week or so later

have been told by dh it is now or lost the place

do the staff prepare activities and structure the session
have not been able to get any info

thank you for talking

it is me who is most worried

Hi XcupcakemummyX, I am in USA so won't be a lot of practical help but we had to change daycares too. In fact with the first one - we somewhat liked the place, we really loved the teacher but DS was sick ALL THE TIME. I don't think they were strict about child to teacher ration.

So, we found another place. DS had to be home for a couple of months while we were looking but when he started, he heat it off right away. He still doesn't talk (just turned 19 month) but the rest of the experience is great! He loves his new place, got comfortable there right away and even on the first day - felt like an old timer. His teacher actually said that she couldn't believe it was his first day!

The point to my story is that children are very flexible and happy by nature. If your child gets into a happy and fun environment, he'll adjust in a min. Don't worry - as long as you like a new place - being their will be the best therapy for him after getting out of a place he didn't like.

Good luck and let us know how things turn out for you.

cupcake - there are activities prepared but most of it is free play, 1st of all inside then halfway through the session they all go out.

How old is your son?

Deb

as i have been lied to so much

will try and get mil to babysit for ds so we can go and talk to the staff

he is four in november

he is sooooo busy she can never manage more than 20 mins!

How long has he been at KG?

DEb

hi

we have had a bad experince with private kindergarten

placed him in wrong class
well everything wrong
then told he had no place!!!!!

suppose to have a place at one out of town

i have no car!
ds is very demanding and seems bright

dh said if i do not put him in now we would lose the place

surely i should be able to wait
thank you so much

he was really upset my the experience

It might be different in a bigger place but here you don't have to send your child at all to KG if you don't want to and there are some parents who think 3 years in KG is too long and they send their child just for the last year before school.As long as they are registered for the KG on the correct day in the year - can't remember the German word for it then they get the place in September.

You sound so sad, I hope you get this worked out soon

Deb

hi

the kindergarten

have now told dh not to even bring ds in this week as his teacher is ill

there is 28 children and 2 staff

it all seems fishy to be

ta ever so for helping

XcupcakemummyX, I can only imagine how worried you're - I know I always go crazy when something is up concerning my child.

I don't mean to make you worry more but 2 teachers and 28 children seems like a lot? Now, if a child is of a social type, s/he might not care but you'd still want plenty of attention, especially if your son wasn't happy with his daycare before.

I wonder... if you DON'T have to ~ and if you're home (don't work or work from home and can be with your DS) - maybe it's ok to keep him home for a little longer?

hi

it is looking like i will keep him at home
as kindergartens open without even the miniumn staff

with notice on the door as if you were leaving property not a small life

debs thank you so much
and everyone else
really never thought this situation would occur

will pop up again no doubt

thank you everyone

You're welcome, feel free to get in touch through my profile.

Sounds like you're doing the right thing, keeping him at home at the moment.

Are there any playgroup/mother and toddler groups?

Deb

soz me here

did you find out if children do get any language help in kindergartens in austria

only curious