[ilovemykids]

i already registered aaron in the nursery school at our synagogue for next year. i have met with the director and his teachers and they kind of said in no direct way that this year there were 15 children in his class and 3 teachers. the ratio is 1-7, 1-7 and 1-1(aaron and teacher). that is how much attention he requires because of his sensory integration dysfunction (very overactive, cannot transition from one activity to another, low muscle tone, always jumping and pushing the other children.)

i think i will keep him there this summer for camp to be with his friends. i am so torn right now.......... he has 2 boys that live around the corner from us and i loved the idea that they went to nursery school together and carpooling with the other moms.

but i also have to think about aaron and his future.

i took him to his occupational therapy appt this afternoon and the OT was telling me they were starting a new program at their school for children ages 3-5 with sensory integration dysfunction. it would be 3 hours a day, 5 days a week. he would have a teacher and an aid in his class of 7-10 students as well as receive occupational therapy 2-3 times a week while at school. i believe this would get him in better condition to start kindergarten the following year.

i so love the nursery school at the synagogue but they really don't have the staffing to deal with aaron's special needs and the special needs school will have the staffing to really help him out. my main concern is if i do put him in the synagogue nursery school he will learn about the jewish holidays but they really don't work on reading, etc., to get them prepared for public school. i am so afraid he will be out of control in kindergarten because he cannot sit still very long. .......i am afraid they will tell me that he cannot be in public school...........i want him in public school with all the neighborhood children.

so........i guess i talked myself into sending him to the special sensory dysfunction program next year instead of the nursery school to get him better under control for the following year.

just waiting for the director to call me tm'rw about fees and registration.

lisa

[HappyMomAnna]

Gosh I am sorry I missed your post for several days.....I would have responded much sooner!

I think it is a great decision to have him take the OT and the special school next year.....for all the reasons that make you feel it is a good choice!

I know how you feel about the mainstream regular fun things we want our little ones to do......but, getting him all this attention right now might make those things far more sucessful for him later as he develops....This special attention now will make it possible for him to do so much better later and then when he joins a group of 'regular' kids he will have had all this attention and support and possibly be able to do so much better.

I am sure the people at the nursery school are great and well meaning but they are not specially skilled to help our children learn to do thier best....maybe next summer he will be ready for the summer program and have the skills he learns during the year be a foundation for greater self esteem and sucess....I think you have made a great decision....

[mom4jc]

My son also has sensory integration disorder and we are just finishing his kindergarten year at our local public school. We tried putting him in our local church preschool and they just weren't able to handle his needs. He was able to enter the head start program due to his needs and did much better there. we have an awesome kindergarten teacher...I picked her specifically for my son. Just remember: you have rights as a parent to get what your child needs. Visit the school and see which teachers are best. You will probably be able to turn in some sort of a request sheet even if your district doesn't let you "pick" teachers. Just stay involved and get what you want!