[mommytoEli]

ok. so eli failed to qualify for ealry intervention. i got his results, and the thing is, he was not 25% below age level in any category.....but it is because where he has huge deficiencies, he also is advanced. like they categorized toe walking in the "motor" category....his toe walking is awful, but he can put together a puzzle faster than the speed of light. i took him to his new peds this week, and after only talking to me about SOME of eli's issues, he told me to call the early intervention services. i told him we already didn't qualify and he said, "eli is almost 3, once he is 3 call the school district and apply for him to be serviced that way. he NEEDS to be serviced." he was especially concerned about the toe walking. but...that was his only reccomendation. i CAN go to OT/PT without a referral...however, there are NO pediatric ot/pt's near us that also take our insurance. we can not afford to pay for him to go, unless i go back to work, and he goes to daycare. i'm getting to the point where i really think that is our best option.

in the meantime, i still can't stop thinking about this little habit of lining things up he has. the ei lady watched him do this and asked me about it, but didn't seem concerned....but i have never known a kid to line up all their toys. here are a few samples. is this just another symptom of sensory integration disorder, or are some kids just liner-uppers??

(sorry, i can't get the magnet board to load right side up, and the lego pic is so small...but i think you get the idea. he does things like this with all his toys.)

[HopeandaPrayer]

My boys line up toys all the time (especially trains and cars etc.). I don't think there is anything for you to worry about.

Terri

[mommytoEli]

thank you for saying that. that makes me feel better.

[DPline]

Do you know for sure that your school district would see him until he is three? We had Daniel evaluated for speech through our school district before he was 3 and I know others in our district who have as well. It may just be speech and it may just be our district or state, but I just wanted to make sure you weren't missing an opportunity there.

[DeeVee]

I am sooo frustrated for you that Eli didn't qualify for services. That is just WRONG, really. Is there any way to appeal the decision? When they evaluated Carolina, they said she had to be at least 40 percent delayed in one area, or 25 percent in two or more areas. It was obvious that she needed services, and the therapist actually helped by making sure to fill out the answers so she would qualify (not cheating, just erring on the side of caution).

As for lining up his toys, Gabriel used to do that with his cars when he was around Eli'e age, and he would not let you move them around -- he'd have to put them back. At the time I was thinking hmmm, a little OCD. But he really has no issues like that at all.

So, it could be an issue, and I would certainly make a mental note of it and mention it when he gets re-evaluated if he keeps it up. Then again, it could be nothing and he'll stop doing it in a few months.

[mommytoEli]

both his peds and the ei lady said 3. but i will call them just in case.

[jamilahlashwe]

Juanito lines empty soda cans, shoes, refrigerator magnets, books, you name it. I don't think there is anything wrong with that. Finally there is someone in our house who will keep things in order

Jamila

[mommytoEli]

Originally Posted by jamilahlashwe

Juanito lines empty soda cans, shoes, refrigerator magnets, books, you name it. I don't think there is anything wrong with that. Finally there is someone in our house who will keep things in order

Jamila

rofl! yeah...eli really likes to shelve books and clean the playroom. be my guest i'm glad other tykes are just as ocd...it makes me feel like it is normal. thanks!

[Guatemom]

Connor STILL organizes/arranges/lines up things all the time, and he just turned 4 in July. He is very methodical like that. One day he lined up all his books flat on the floor, side by side, outlining the foam floor padding (the big puzzle abc floors, kwim?); he bordered it with his books all lined up--think he was 2 1/2 when he did that. And for the longest time would not even attempt to color with a crayon w/out peeling every last piece of paper off of it first. He still likes to group like things together, but not as bad. Oh more lining up-I forgot he used to line up his crayons (carefully peeled of course) end-to-end and this is how he used to display them as he colored.

[angel_bayou]

I was just chating with a friend today whose son was just dx and this is something she mentioned he does all the time. I'm not having to deal with this but I know one of my girls likes to do this, but not all the time! Maybe it is determined by the degree in which they do it?? Either way I'm sending you hugs and lots of luck!!! It's such a shame that parents have to fight so hard to get their children the help they need!

[shelbydog]

The best advice I can give is that you need to follow your gut feeling. If you leave playdates concerned....if you leave activities feeling something is just NQR (not quite right)...follow your gut and fight for help if you must.

IMHO, I would be a bit worried if the lining up toys is "pervasive" (our OT's used that word often). Can you distract him from it? Get him to do something else? If not, it may be a concern. That combined with the toe walking could be a sign of an SI issue, but it may not be. At age 3, yes - the school districts will do an eval. and start services if he qualifies. Keep in mind that many school districts do not "recognize" SI issues. You may need to go private.

If the lining up of toys interferes with other play - if he doesn't "hear you" while he is lining things up and if he tantrums when you try to distract, then yes, an OT would call that "pervasive" and it may need attention. Otherwise, every child has their quirks and he'll probably grow out of it and be very organized Good luck! Follow your gut!!

[busterleroy]

My seriously brilliant nephew loved to line up his toys when he was three or so. EVERY toy, expecially cars and trains had to be lined up. He is over this now, and is a totally normal kid who would look at me like I was nuts if I asked him to put his toys in a line. Joey likes to line things up as well, not as much now but still does it every now and then.

[Theslaws]

Just me again...the ped. speech path with lots of cross over training in OT related issues

Sometimes kids line up toys because they arent sure what else to do with them. They know "how" to play but have a hard time coming up with their own ideas. We call it poor "motor planning". Often times kids with SI issues also have problems motor planning. My gut is lots of OT. It stinks that he no longer qualifies! I cant stand that! I work in an outpatient clinic and we see tons of the kids who dont qualify. It may be worth asking the OT who worked with him in the school if she ever takes kids "on the side". She may charge less than a hospital or clinic. Also, if there are no facilities that are in network, some insurance companies will let you go to one that is out of network since they dont offer any options in network (does that make sense???)

Good luck!

[avoel]

My daughter who is just turned 6 and has severe ADHD, does this a lot too, especially with cars. Her psychologist encouraged me to let her do it saying that it is a way of calming what must be chaos in her mind. There are times when it seems she craves it...and it does calm her down. She is not autistic...very social in fact, and not OCD in any other ways. She is a sensory seeker as wekk, but not enough to ever qualify for services in that department. But, I just let her have at it, and in fact find myself buying her toys that encourage it...she just got the PLAN toys parking garage for her birthday and already has a car mat that has the roads pictured on it that she loves.

[Waiting4Bryan]

My son, who does not have sensory integration, constantly lines up cars, trains, etc. It's a normal kid thing and I suppose a way to organize the chaotic brain of a toddler.