Guest guest Posted July 10, 2006 Report Share Posted July 10, 2006 Do any other parents in this group have their children in child care? Unfortunately my husband I both have to work to support our family and we cannot afford to have a nanny, so we are looking into other childcare options. Our son will be eight months old when he starts and has a moderate hearing loss, aided since he was 9 weeks old. . . I am struggling with this as any mother would for any child, but have even more guilt over what I feel are Donovan's special needs. The logical part of me says that a day care that keeps his hearing aids in is just as good for him as it was for our daughter -- who did just fine in daycare, and that the constant talk of the teachers and other kids will be good for him. That I should not treat him any differently until he evidences a need for special treatment. However the nuturing part of me is freaking out over this situation. Have any of you had to work? What type of childcare did you use? Is their a resource out there for mother of hearing impaired children? Thank you, as always, for the advice. Emylie mother of Kaiden, 6 & typical hearing, and Donovan, 7mos moderate HL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 10, 2006 Report Share Posted July 10, 2006 Both my husband and I also work full time. My daughter has been in child care at my neighbor's since she was 3 months old and everything worked out. She seems happy there. Special teachers would visit the day care provider almost every week to help her learn more about my daughter's special needs. They also gave her a baby sign video and she learned a little sign language. I will switch my daughter to my older son's child care center after her first birthday at the end of summer. It s a big place but infant teachers already know baby signs there and are willing to learn more signs for my daughter. It's a lot easier to have both kids at the same day care and I hope it'll work out for my daugther for a while till she enters deaf school at age 2 1/2 or 3. I had seeked a babysitter who is fluent in ASL for my daughter but couldn't find one available. So I sent my daughter to my neighbor who also had taken care of my older son till he turned 2. You could contact your state's child care programs for assistance with locating child care providers who would be willing to accommodate with your son's special needs. I have done that here in MD and they were a great help. Perhaps check your state government website. Hope that helps. Rita > > Do any other parents in this group have their children in child care? > > Unfortunately my husband I both have to work to support our family > and we cannot afford to have a nanny, so we are looking into other > childcare options. Our son will be eight months old when he starts > and has a moderate hearing loss, aided since he was 9 weeks old. . . > I am struggling with this as any mother would for any child, but > have even more guilt over what I feel are Donovan's special needs. > > The logical part of me says that a day care that keeps his hearing > aids in is just as good for him as it was for our daughter -- who > did just fine in daycare, and that the constant talk of the teachers > and other kids will be good for him. That I should not treat him > any differently until he evidences a need for special treatment. > > However the nuturing part of me is freaking out over this situation. > Have any of you had to work? What type of childcare did you use? Is > their a resource out there for mother of hearing impaired children? > > Thank you, as always, for the advice. > Emylie > mother of Kaiden, 6 & typical hearing, and Donovan, 7mos moderate HL > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 10, 2006 Report Share Posted July 10, 2006 Hi Emylie - my boys are in middle school now but were in child care when they were younger. Both my husband and I work full time. We had a wonderful situation for our boys (both boys have hearing loss). We found a small daycare center that was part of a retirement community. It was on-site daycare for the folks who worked there but they opened it up to community members - so both Tom and Sam were there up until they started school. Both boys were fully part of things in the daycare center, but they did receive their special ed services there (the teacher came to them). Their teachers were inserviced and in fact, even used the boys' FM systems. Both my guys still speak fondly of their days at Kendal. I thought it was good for our boys to be in a mainstreamed situation for preschool - it worked well for them. The child care center was relatively small which helped with noise level as well as individual attention... Barbara Emylie wrote: > Do any other parents in this group have their children in child care? > > Unfortunately my husband I both have to work to support our family > and we cannot afford to have a nanny, so we are looking into other > childcare options. Our son will be eight months old when he starts > and has a moderate hearing loss, aided since he was 9 weeks old. . . > I am struggling with this as any mother would for any child, but > have even more guilt over what I feel are Donovan's special needs. > > The logical part of me says that a day care that keeps his hearing > aids in is just as good for him as it was for our daughter -- who > did just fine in daycare, and that the constant talk of the teachers > and other kids will be good for him. That I should not treat him > any differently until he evidences a need for special treatment. > > However the nuturing part of me is freaking out over this situation. > Have any of you had to work? What type of childcare did you use? Is > their a resource out there for mother of hearing impaired children? > > Thank you, as always, for the advice. > Emylie > mother of Kaiden, 6 & typical hearing, and Donovan, 7mos moderate HL > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 10, 2006 Report Share Posted July 10, 2006 I do daycare in my home, so I don't have to worry about that. But honestly if you find a provider who is a good fit, just be honest about what you expect from her. Tell her what your needs are. I am sure you will be able to find someone who will be a great sitter for him. Tawnya Childcare Do any other parents in this group have their children in child care? Unfortunately my husband I both have to work to support our family and we cannot afford to have a nanny, so we are looking into other childcare options. Our son will be eight months old when he starts and has a moderate hearing loss, aided since he was 9 weeks old. . . I am struggling with this as any mother would for any child, but have even more guilt over what I feel are Donovan's special needs. The logical part of me says that a day care that keeps his hearing aids in is just as good for him as it was for our daughter -- who did just fine in daycare, and that the constant talk of the teachers and other kids will be good for him. That I should not treat him any differently until he evidences a need for special treatment. However the nuturing part of me is freaking out over this situation. Have any of you had to work? What type of childcare did you use? Is their a resource out there for mother of hearing impaired children? Thank you, as always, for the advice. Emylie mother of Kaiden, 6 & typical hearing, and Donovan, 7mos moderate HL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 10, 2006 Report Share Posted July 10, 2006 Hi, Emylie! While we didn't know about 's hearing issues until he was in kindergarten, we did know about (and dealt with services for) his speech issues starting at the age of 2. What worked very well for us was finding an in-home provider who had a small number of children in her charge - it was just my two boys and another little girl. We were referred to her by the other little girl's parents, and she was a true treasure. When she and her family moved right before 's 3rd birthday, we made the decision to put both of our boys in a local daycare center that had a preschool curriculum in the morning and free play in the afternoon. really thrived in this atmosphere, and I remember seeing that they had a couple of children with various disabilities there when we took our tour. To be honest, however, I don't think would have enjoyed being there prior to this age - but that's more because of his personality than his hearing and speech issues. Have you talked with your pediatrician and/or audiologist or hearing specialist? They might have some recommendations for you (if nothing else, they may tell you what they *don't* advise). Our pediatrician is a firm believer in using home-based providers (as opposed to centers) for the first year if at all possible, simply due to germs and such - but that's his opinion. Hugs to you, Kris Mom to (8, Profound/Complete SNL, Left Ear) and Ethan (6, hearing) _____ From: Listen-Up [mailto:Listen-Up ] On Behalf Of Emylie Sent: Monday, July 10, 2006 8:35 PM To: Listen-Up Subject: Childcare Do any other parents in this group have their children in child care? Unfortunately my husband I both have to work to support our family and we cannot afford to have a nanny, so we are looking into other childcare options. Our son will be eight months old when he starts and has a moderate hearing loss, aided since he was 9 weeks old. . . I am struggling with this as any mother would for any child, but have even more guilt over what I feel are Donovan's special needs. The logical part of me says that a day care that keeps his hearing aids in is just as good for him as it was for our daughter -- who did just fine in daycare, and that the constant talk of the teachers and other kids will be good for him. That I should not treat him any differently until he evidences a need for special treatment. However the nuturing part of me is freaking out over this situation. Have any of you had to work? What type of childcare did you use? Is their a resource out there for mother of hearing impaired children? Thank you, as always, for the advice. Emylie mother of Kaiden, 6 & typical hearing, and Donovan, 7mos moderate HL _ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 Hi Emylie, I also have had both of my boys in childcare. The one thing that I had a bad experience with was in a larger center. I had not realized that the capacity for the room was so large. I had toured the center apparently at a low enrollment time and focused on the program curriculum and the teacher/student ratios. When we actually attended, which was for less than 6 months, it turned out that the room held two teachers, plus the students for a total of either 24 or 32 kids in the room. ( I can't remember, as it has been 5 years) But, it was too many. The chaos and the noise made me crazy, so I pulled him out and found a smaller environment. My son never complained. Later, one of the employees there, that babysat for me a few times, commented to me how cute it was when my son sat in the corner with his hands over his ears. I can't tell you how angry I was about that. As he became older and better at communicating, I have learned how sensitive he is too loud noises of that type, and how it not only really limits his ability to function, but actually hurts. My younger son is in a larger center now, and his age group has 20 kids in one class with two teachers and an aid. They have strategized a system where the entire group is only together in the class for story time, lunch and nap. Otherwise they divide and conquer, with 10 in the room, and 10 in the hallway, or outside. It is a great system and peace reigns most of the time. For my older son with hearing loss, I had two at home daycare situations which were both wonderful until he reached age 3. Then he really needed a bit more structure and a preschool curriculum that I couldn't find, thus the change. I, at first went for name recognition in a larger center. However, the two larger centers that have turned out to be the best have been privately owned by very committed and involved owners. Both were referred to me by other parents. Good Luck. I know it is hard, but you will find the right place for your child. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 Emylie I was a single mom when I was raising my girls in California and my Hayley was in childcare. She was in a private day care home with a woman whose sister just happened to be deaf - when we found out Hayley was deaf. I bought a new house and we moved about 20 minutes away to a safer city so I needed a new daycare (H needed to change programs) and I found a woman who was willing to learn sign language. Unfortunately, she thought she was so good that she corrected Hayley's teacher and I had some other problems with her. Dont' assume because people are willing to learn sign that that's the best place for your child. Hayley went to a day care camp at age 5 I think, and she really enjoyed that. She was with her little sister and we stayed with this place until she was 12...they happened to have people who signed, and they gave sign language classes. I recently visited there and found that one of her past counselors is now an interpreter. I do not think there are any special resources out there for parents of deaf kids. You will probably need to make some calls and interview people to get a feel for the best day care for him. > > Unfortunately my husband I both have to work to support our family > and we cannot afford to have a nanny, so we are looking into other > childcare options. Our son will be eight months old when he starts > and has a moderate hearing loss, aided since he was 9 weeks old. . . > I am struggling with this as any mother would for any child, but > have even more guilt over what I feel are Donovan's special needs. > > The logical part of me says that a day care that keeps his hearing > aids in is just as good for him as it was for our daughter -- who > did just fine in daycare, and that the constant talk of the teachers > and other kids will be good for him. That I should not treat him > any differently until he evidences a need for special treatment. > > However the nuturing part of me is freaking out over this situation. > Have any of you had to work? What type of childcare did you use? Is > their a resource out there for mother of hearing impaired children? > > Thank you, as always, for the advice. > Emylie > mother of Kaiden, 6 & typical hearing, and Donovan, 7mos moderate HL > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 > Do any other parents in this group have their children in child care? > e, I plan to start my daughter Carys(currently 3 months old with severe to profound SNHL) in daycare at 6 months old. We will be starting her out in the daycare (medium size center) that my older daughter attends. I felt it was a good situation for daughter #1 and am willing to give it a try for my little one. Carys's hearing teacher (through Early Intervention) will go into her daycare to work with the daycare teachers and assess the situation for a child with hearing loss. The only thing I am currently concerned about is that the building is an old mansion and therefore the soundproofing is not good. As we are still a few months away from daycare, I'll have to come back and post our experiences. But I do intend to go back to work (I'm on a nice long maternity leave right now) and would love to hear from you how your experiences work out. I am also keeping an open mind - if this daycare doesn't work out, we'll have to find another one or a different option. Hope all goes well for you and your son, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 > Do any other parents in this group have their children in child care? > e, I plan to start my daughter Carys(currently 3 months old with severe to profound SNHL) in daycare at 6 months old. We will be starting her out in the daycare (medium size center) that my older daughter attends. I felt it was a good situation for daughter #1 and am willing to give it a try for my little one. Carys's hearing teacher (through Early Intervention) will go into her daycare to work with the daycare teachers and assess the situation for a child with hearing loss. The only thing I am currently concerned about is that the building is an old mansion and therefore the soundproofing is not good. As we are still a few months away from daycare, I'll have to come back and post our experiences. But I do intend to go back to work (I'm on a nice long maternity leave right now) and would love to hear from you how your experiences work out. I am also keeping an open mind - if this daycare doesn't work out, we'll have to find another one or a different option. Hope all goes well for you and your son, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 > > Do any other parents in this group have their > children in child care? - Yes, our 21 month old daughter Kendall(bilateral SNHL) has been in a child care center in the building where my husband works since she was 3 months old. We have had wonderful experiences there - Kendall absolutely loves it and the teachers have been great in every way and very responsible about helping her keep her hearing aids in. We also had Kendall's teacher of the deaf visit the center twice - once when Kendall was in the infant room and again when she transitioned to the toddler room. On each visit the TOD provided recommendations, answered questions the staff had and taught the teachers a few signs. > Kris > > M. Kenney __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 Thank you all for letting me know your experiences. It takes away a lot of the guilt knowing I am not the only working mom. . . I will definately talk to our Early Childhood counselor and AI and well as our Sunshine Cottage parent advisor about going out to the school and working with Donovan's teachers. That is a really great idea. I will also get some materials together for the teachers regarding educating children with hearing loss, and review the ear chart and his audiogram with them. Thank you for the great suggestions! Emylie San , Tx Mother of Kaiden, 6 Hearing and Donovan, 7mos Moderate HL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 Hi Emylie - we all do things differently. I have a job that I love that's somewhat flexible - so I can take my guys to the audiologist without guilt, etc. It's worked well for Hugh (my husband) and me and our boys seem none the worse for wear... I have a big office with lots of computers so often the guys will come to my office after school - they can study, do their homework and get stuff done on the computer. It's really worked well for us. We have a teacher of the deaf who always inservices our boys' teachers at the beginning of each school year. She does a great job - I think I learn something new every year! So you might consider that as well. Most of our guys' teachers found it helpful and eye-opening. Barbara Emylie wrote: > Thank you all for letting me know your experiences. It takes away a > lot of the guilt knowing I am not the only working mom. . . > > I will definately talk to our Early Childhood counselor and AI and > well as our Sunshine Cottage parent advisor about going out to the > school and working with Donovan's teachers. That is a really great > idea. > > I will also get some materials together for the teachers regarding > educating children with hearing loss, and review the ear chart and his > audiogram with them. > > Thank you for the great suggestions! > > Emylie > San , Tx > Mother of Kaiden, 6 Hearing and Donovan, 7mos Moderate HL > > > > > > > > All messages posted to this list are private and confidential. Each post is the intellectual property of the author and therefore subject to copyright restrictions. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2006 Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 You said your son is 8 months? Is he in Early Intervention? We have the option of putting him in the daycare that is associated with Early Intervention. It is an intensive speech/ASL program from 9-12 but I have the option of starting him at regular daycare hours. That might be something to see if it is available to you. --------------------------------- How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messenger’s low PC-to-Phone call rates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 My son Elias is in childcare and has been since he was a baby, with a year's break when he was in treatment. He is 4 now. Getting him back into " school " was one of our biggest goals when he was in treatment since that represented normalcy to us. He started again as soon as his oncologist cleared him, and he was so happy! He goes to a YWCA center with a " developmental " curriculum - sort of Montessori-like. The head teacher comes to his IEP meetings as his advocate, and is very informed about his needs. She has no problem dealing with the hearing aids. Since they swim as part of the program, she has to be able to get them in and out. Elias also gets his special services at school - he has OT,PT, speech, and a " special education itinerant teacher " who comes in 3 afternoons a week. I cannot stress enough how wonderful a good childcare/preschool program can be for a child with hearing loss or other special needs. The interaction with other kids and with teachers is really helpful for kids with hearing loss. And they get a head start on school readiness, which I think can be an issue. In fact, I often joke that the main reason I work is to keep Elias at the YWCA center. There are bad programs out there, so choose carefully. Bonnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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