Question: Child caretaker with child showing delayed speech.

[Guest guest]

I take care of a 37 mo. boy. He repeats everything I say or my kids

say but he never initiates conversation or engages in 'make-believe'

conversation when playing. I have to use gestures to get him to

follow through with commands/request. He is a polly parrot with

everything. I have spoken to the parent but she feels that he is

normal and it is a matter of differences in our parenting styles. I

discourage pointing or whining to get things. My youngest was dx with

apraxia last year so I am very familiar with language delays now.

I've given the parent the book " The Late Talker " and the parent has

stated she isn't going to pursue any course of action. I'm at a loss

of what to do to help this child. He also isn't potty trained and

will go when you put him on the potty but otherwise just goes on

himself and doesn't recognize when he has. As a childcare worker; do

any of you have suggestions of what to say to her to get her child

evaluated? She is looking at putting him in a 3-4 y.o. preschool

program but he is around two other 3 y.o. all day and doesn't

communicate with them. I'm so frustrated because I feel so helpless

and his mom refuses to help him. Any suggestions?

Tara E.