development of 2.11 year old....advice/reassurance needed please please please!!

[holybatsh1t]

just wanted to get some opinions or advice on DD1 who turns three next month she has been attending preschool for one term now, but has had trouble settling in she loves going there, but does not llike change of activity etc which resulted in tantrums and the ammount of time she attends has been slowly increased week by week. However, this has greatly improved, the staff seem pleased with her progress on this subject My next point is that she has a speech delay and has just started speech therapy. She has a very good vocab and good understanding etc. We are getting lots short sentences (6-7words) progress on this has been slow. Hearing seems ok, and in general we can communicate well together in all areas. When at pre-school, she doesn't interact that much with the other children, is this lack of confidence at her own communication skills? shyness? or sensitivity? I'm also concernred that she does not seem to ask many questions or have any of her own imaginative play. She is being assessed by a SENCO soon which is good. At home she has calmed down on her tantrums, or I have learnt how to deal with them. She often needs lots of reassurance that the little things don't matter. She has a few friends of her own age that we see on a fairly regular basis, but again because of her speech delay she does not seem as close as some of her other peers. I'm just very worried at the moment, that she seems to be a little bit different from other children her own age. I know they ar not all the same and that they all develop at very different levels, but does any of this sound more serious to you??

In what way is her speech delayed? Does she have problems with pronunciation? Just that 6-7 word sentences sounds fine for her age.

Ok, not every sentence is 6-7 words, thats the exception (yet still achieved and note worthy), and yes, there is lots of mispronunciation and still lots of jargon.

Does she seem interested in other children in that she watches what they are doing? Does she share with you/point things out to you? If you try to engage her in having a tea party or feeding the teddies, is she interested in joining in/does she understand what you are doing? Perhaps she is shy or a little delayed but I'm sure the SENCO will be able to provide some more answers.

MMJ, yes she does watch other children, to the point of following them in supermarkets etc, very curious/nosy in that way. We are always 'chatting' when out and about, she points out everything she can. Loves tea parties and interactive play, but only when I've iniated it. It does sound in black and white like she is delayed doesn't it?

speech delay can have an impact on other areas such as imaginative play and socialising. I wouldn't expect very much from friendship between under 3s - as MannyMoeJack has said, I would expect an interest in the other children, rather than playing a lot together. Hopefully your discussion with the Senco will be helpful. Bearing in mind that the waiting list to see an educational psychologist and/or developmental paediatrician can be several months long in some areas, if you have concerns, it's best to get on the waiting list, as an appointment can always be cancelled if it no longer seems necessary.

I would say your dd has some good skills - skills that can be worked on and extended with the right help and support. I'm not an expert on speech development but I would say that speech and social competence are closely linked - when one matures, the other should mature in synchrony. Good luck with the meeting.

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