I have a new daycare boy who has been with me for 3 weeks. He's about to turn 4, so I placed him in my preschool class, but he's not adapting well even though he's sweet as pie. He can't hold a pencil or scissors, and is unable to follow along with any of our lessons. During our center rotation, I've been working with him one on one and trying to get him to grip a pencil and trace basic shapes like a circle, square, or even just a short straight line, he just can't do it. He'll scribble all over the paper, even though I've just done it with him hand over hand a second before.
He also doesn't seem to process what I'm saying to him. He is sweet natured, and always says "ok" after given a command, but also replies "ok" after being asked a question. It's almost as if he doesn't understand what I want at all. Example: "___, please take off your shoes." "ok"(and sits there looking at me). I'll follow up with "Shoes off" and point to his shoes, and sometimes he'll pick up on what I'm asking. This is by far my biggest concern.
Other behaviors are occurring as well. He doesn't understand why the other kids get so upset when he takes their toys repeatedly. During free play, I often have to quarantine him on one side of the room with his favorite toys so he doesn't take ones the others are playing with. He also hums Star Wars on repeat, which was adorable the first week, but I'd really like him to learn a new tune if you know what I mean. He'll often lay on the couch flat on his back and rock side to side while humming. Same thing during naptime, he rocked for an hour one day last week.
I have a developmental specialist coming to assess my entire preschool group next week (I didn't want his mom to feel I was singling him out). I am concerned how the mom will react if she hears there is a significant delay in several areas. She's very sweet, but I know it will be devastating to hear.
Does anyone have any clue as to a name for this kind of behavior? Is it autism? He makes excellent eye contact, and I thought the major symptom of autism is lack of eye contact, am I wrong? Auditory processing? Does someone have firsthand experience with a child like this?
He also doesn't seem to process what I'm saying to him. He is sweet natured, and always says "ok" after given a command, but also replies "ok" after being asked a question. It's almost as if he doesn't understand what I want at all. Example: "___, please take off your shoes." "ok"(and sits there looking at me). I'll follow up with "Shoes off" and point to his shoes, and sometimes he'll pick up on what I'm asking. This is by far my biggest concern.
Other behaviors are occurring as well. He doesn't understand why the other kids get so upset when he takes their toys repeatedly. During free play, I often have to quarantine him on one side of the room with his favorite toys so he doesn't take ones the others are playing with. He also hums Star Wars on repeat, which was adorable the first week, but I'd really like him to learn a new tune if you know what I mean. He'll often lay on the couch flat on his back and rock side to side while humming. Same thing during naptime, he rocked for an hour one day last week.
I have a developmental specialist coming to assess my entire preschool group next week (I didn't want his mom to feel I was singling him out). I am concerned how the mom will react if she hears there is a significant delay in several areas. She's very sweet, but I know it will be devastating to hear.
Does anyone have any clue as to a name for this kind of behavior? Is it autism? He makes excellent eye contact, and I thought the major symptom of autism is lack of eye contact, am I wrong? Auditory processing? Does someone have firsthand experience with a child like this?
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