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feeling extremely frustated - can anyone help with advice on 11 year old with cp

4 replies

rubyred · 12/02/2004 21:02

My step son is 11 years old and has mild cerebral palsy. You wouldn't know it immediately - physically it only affects his ankles. Mentally however the affect is definite (although you wouldn't realise it on first meeting). He has very a poor attention span and extremely poor memory. He is also clumsy. He has two older very bright siblings which I don't think helps him to feel very good about himself. He goes to a mainstream school and this is where the problem lies. He has just been put into detention because he got caught skipping class and smoking (at 11!!!!). He is a really lovely boy who is desperate to feel part of the gang and is very easily led. When my dh talked to him about what happened he started talking about being bullied. He is not daft but because of his learning difficulties he is in the bottom class for subjects. I just wondered what I /his parents could do to make sure that he achieves his potential and doesn't end up feeling worthless and that his school days were a complete misery. I know school's can't have someone follow him round to keep him on the straight and narrow but I really worry about him.

Does anyone have any experience or suggestions?

OP posts:
coppertop · 13/02/2004 10:37

Sorry to hear you are having problems. I have no experience of CP but thought I would bump this to the top so that someone else would see it. Does he get any extra help at school at the moment for his learning difficulties?

fio2 · 13/02/2004 11:13

I dont know what to suggest either but it seems your stepson is doing what teenagers do and that is bunk off school and have a crafty fag now and again, we have all done it. I would just repremand him as you would a 'normal' child/teenager. I think as long as you discipline him and explain to him things eventually it 'may' get through. I have pressumed from your message that he is emotionally delayed aswell so this may be why he doesnt understand things aswell as he should do. I dont know what else to say, my dd is only 4 and we havent got to this stage yet. Hope things sort out for you.

Luckymum · 13/02/2004 13:31

rubyred.....don't have experience with cp but I have a 12 year old ds2. I agree with you with regard to wanting to 'fit in' and I think thats probably why he is behaving in this way. There is incredible pressure on them and if he is already feeling different its easy to pick the group thats most accepting, to 'hang with'. TBH getting caught is probably a good thing, hopefully they will keep a closer eye on him. Does he have any support/mentor at school who helps him?

I don't have any good advice I'm afraid just sympathy because it is so so hard trying to get them to make the right 'choices' and picking up the pieces when they don't.

maryz · 13/02/2004 21:13

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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