If your dc is receiving ei services

My ds is 2 and is receiving speech and special ed now. He is going to be evaluated again to see if he needs more and whether they need to add ot. I signed him up for a my gym class, thinking it would be good for him to be around other kids. Today was his 4th class and I don't think it is going very well. He becomes hysterical when it is time to transition from one activity to another. He wants nothing to do with circle time. Today he was pretty much inconsolable because he had to let another child take a turn on something. I ended up leaving 15 mins early because at this point i just couldn't calm him down or redirect him to something else. I don't know what to do. I'm trying to do everything I can to help him learn and grow. I don't know if this class is just torturing him and not for him or if I should just keep trying. Are there any other classes that you can suggest that might be more structured or better for a child with delays. I'm not entirely sure what I'm asking but I just need some help.

Re: If your dc is receiving ei services

is the class that structured that the kids must transition, or can they choose to stay in one particular area if they want to?

DS is getting PT and the agency actually has a mommy and me class where it is run by a speech pathologist and sp ed teacher....which I think is great bc they are more qualified to deal with delayed children than young teachers who are typically at My Gym or Gymboree type places. Maybe the agency who is providing the services has something similar to that?

Re: If your dc is receiving ei services

I am going to ask. Is this something that you pay for is it something that they offer? The class has some free play but they change the activities after awhile.

Re: If your dc is receiving ei services

You can get it written into DC's IFSP...then you wouldn't pay, but you can pay also if it couldn't be written into the IFSP

Re: If your dc is receiving ei services

Re: If your dc is receiving ei services

My son sounds just like your son. His special ed. therapist spends one hour a day shadowing him at daycare to work on prompting him in these sitautions. She's really worked wonders for him. I still have a hard time with transitions when it is just me which always makes those situations kind of stressful for me. But then again, I do have to say he is getting so much better.

Re: If your dc is receiving ei services

those classes can be tough for many kids....the sensory overload is nuts...so many sounds, movements, activities, props, etc. ETA: see if your service providers have any recommendations or if they can make something to help him with the transitions to help him anticipate the next activity.

Message edited 1/31/2010 1:51:04 PM.

Re: If your dc is receiving ei services

We took a class like this, not at My Gym though, and DS liked elements about it, but he mostly wanted to spend the whole time running around the gym in circles. Luckily the instructor wasn't very strict about the kids following along exactly, so it wasn't a bad experience.

He did much better with a Mommy & Me we took recently--there were a small number of kids, and while there was a structure to the activities, it was very low key, and no one cared if he didn't want to switch activities--interestingly, he followed along very well. This was not an EI program, but I am guessing the open nature of the class and the size (only 6-7 kids) may have helped. He was also one of the oldest.

Anyway, I think looking into classes recommended by your provider is a good idea, wish I had thought of it sooner myself!

DS is receiving speech therapy, but his receptive speech isn't an issue, it's the expressive speech, so I know he understands us. Still, transitions are hard for him.

Re: If your dc is receiving ei services

Thank you for your responses. I am going to talk to the therapists tomorrow. I think I will also call the coordinator.

Re: If your dc is receiving ei services

It may be too hard for him at 2 to sit through circle time.

DS started an integration class a 27 months through EI. The class has both typical and special need children.

Only now at a bit over 2.5 yo, does he last longer on circle time.

He still does not understand waiting for turns so we are "learning" slowly.

Does DC qualifies for PT or OT?

I cannot bring DS to a "typical" gym setting with all typical kids, unless this is a party or something like that. DS is not following the "rules". It is best when the program is geared towards special need kids. They know how to redirect kids, gear activities towards them, etc... Like the lines to go to something (let's say trampoline!) are divided into 4 lines. There are maybe 2-4 trampolines. Not just 1.