Re: 3yr old in school

February 1, 2006

Hollie,

Our Ian's hearing loss probably started around this age, but we had no idea

it was happening. What we did know was that we had an incredibly shy little

guy. So, I signed him up for nursery school for two afternoons a week. We had

done the Mommy & Me style once-a-week program the year before and he had really

enjoyed liked that. So, while I knew that tossing him into the social

setting of nursery school would be hard at first, I knew he'd be just fine after

a

few days. He was.

He was comfortable in small play groups, which is how they intentionally had

set up the rooms and play areas. And when it was playground time, he'd join

smaller groups on the outskirts of the chaos. After a very short time, he had

his own little group of somewhat shy friends and they'd seek each other out

and play together in that big, loud, chaotic playground setting.

I'm thrilled I signed him up. Those two days were just enough for him at

that age. I would also set up play dates with his new friends on the other

days.

Sometimes it was just one or two friends at one of our homes and sometimes

we'd meet a whole group of people at the park.

When Ian was 4, he moved up into the 4-year-old class (pre-K) and had

classes 3 days a week in the mornings. Again, he did well. This was also the

time

when we were working on his " being brave " and overcoming some of the shyness

and clinging to me.

This was a regular nursery school, not an EI or D/HOH program. There was one

other boy there whose hearing loss was identified at that time. The boys

were friends before either one's loss was identified and have been friends ever

since. They are also the only D/HOH kid their age that either one knows in

this area.

Hope this helps -- Jill

In a message dated 2/1/2006 3:11:14 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

hutchings2@... writes:

Did any of you do that, and did you put them in a normal preschool or did

you chose to put them in one for kids with disabilites. I need some help

here. Also did you put them in a 5dys a week class, all day or half? Help need

some stories here. please

Hollie Hutchings

February 1, 2006

Hollie, I don't know your situation: how much does your son hear, how does

he communicate, how comfortable are you with giving him language at home. So

I'll tell you what I did, but don't feel like you have to go that way!

My son has a severe to profound loss, he's oral, and at 3 we put him in the

local hearing/speech/language preschool. It was a program for 3-year-olds

who had one of those issues, and only those issues (no other disabilities).

He went four mornings a week; they did language-rich activities, he received

speech and auditory therapy, and he played with other deaf/HOH kids. I'm a

stay-at-home mom too, and honestly, I was thrilled to have a little time

off.

I do know other moms who keep their kids home and do a lot of

language-enriching activities on their own, and you could certainly do that.

But is your therapist suggesting school because she feels your son isn't

progressing quickly enough? Or that he needs more intensive instruction? Or

that he would benefit from being around other kids? That should help you

figure out what kind of program, if any, is appropriate for your son.

Hope that helps!

Stefanie

Mom to Ben, 7, severe/profound HOH, and Isabella, 10, mild loss

on 2/1/06 3:06 PM, hutchings2@... at hutchings2@... wrote:

> I am a stay at home mom. It has come up during our therapy session that I

> should put my son in a 3yrs preschool program. Did any of you do that, and

> did you put them in a normal preschool or did you chose to put them in one for

> kids with disabilites. I need some help here. Also did you put them in a 5dys

> a week class, all day or half? Help need some stories here. please

>

> Hollie Hutchings

>

February 1, 2006

My girls (both bi-lat mild/mod SNHL) turn 3 at end of this month, and are

scheduled to attend the same type of preschool described (a central

county preschool for hearing impaired children). If children have hearing loss

AND other issues, my understanding is they go to the early ed preschool in their

local district, since the 'other' issues trump the hearing loss. Not sure I buy

that, but that's how it's handled here. The hearing-impaired preschool is 5

days/week, from 9-1:30. Add a 1/2 hour commute each way, and it makes for a

very long day for little 3 year olds. But, the class ratio is 4:1 teacher + FT

aid, so I can't beat that kind of specific attention at any other school. My

girls are on target with language, so we expect they will attend this special

school for a year, then mainstream into reg. 4 yo preschool.

Having triplets, I feel my kids get exposure to the base concepts (sharing,

kindness, turn taking, etc.) and they all attend two 3-hr mornings/wk of Moms

Morning Out program. Still, I like the idea that the girls will go to a special

school that can address their issue FT for the entire day's session.

Edith

mom to Lidy, Mimi and Owen (soon to be three on Feb 27)