All About Autism

[pinkamoon]

A good start.

[nugget]

Couragemom:

Hi ImMeeMee,

I was just thinking what happen to you, Nugget and Mashy and suddenly I saw your posting. Glad to hear that your daughter is doing well in her school.

Hi Couragemom,

Thanks for thinking about me. Due to work and other stuff, I haven't had time to check this thread out a lot.

Welcome all the new moms to this thread. This is thread here is a very good support group. Not only we share information about therapies, we also support each other whenever we feel down, acknowledge the our deepest fears and rejoice our kids achievement.

Its a long journey indeed. I think we will not rest until the day we rest this world.

Regarding delaying kid, I am sure if I were to delay my son 1 year, he will definitely benefit as he is also a year end kid. He is now in P1, even though his grades aren't great, but he is very motivated and loves going to school when he doesn't have any friends. I also don't know why..

Just sharing my thoughts on putting ASD kids into mainstream environment.

I do believe parents involvement is very important. However, not everyone are so compassionate towards ASD child especially in the mainstream environment. This is something that we need to be realistic about especially in our competitive society. I think if teachers make concessions for our kids due to their conditions is our blessings. If not, we just have to be thick skin and kiasu and keep following up with teachers.

Nowadays, I don't even tell teachers that my kid is special for some of his enrichment classes. Because I want him to be treated normally like any other kid. To the teachers, my boy might seem slow and always day dream. At least they take an effort to tell me where he is weak at, complain about his work and attentiveness.

My goal for my son has always been:
1. Be independent
2. Able to integrate with the mainstream society
3. Able to make a living for himself (this one is something we need to work on at later stage)

However I still baby my son a lot. I need to constantly tell myself to let go. Let him grow up and do things on his own. I am still working on it.

Everyone jiayou!

[Couragemom]

nugget:

Couragemom:

Hi ImMeeMee,

I was just thinking what happen to you, Nugget and Mashy and suddenly I saw your posting. Glad to hear that your daughter is doing well in her school.

Hi Couragemom,

Thanks for thinking about me. Due to work and other stuff, I haven't had time to check this thread out a lot.

Welcome all the new moms to this thread. This is thread here is a very good support group. Not only we share information about therapies, we also support each other whenever we feel down, acknowledge the our deepest fears and rejoice our kids achievement.

Its a long journey indeed. I think we will not rest until the day we rest this world.

Regarding delaying kid, I am sure if I were to delay my son 1 year, he will definitely benefit as he is also a year end kid. He is now in P1, even though his grades aren't great, but he is very motivated and loves going to school when he doesn't have any friends. I also don't know why..

Just sharing my thoughts on putting ASD kids into mainstream environment.

I do believe parents involvement is very important. However, not everyone are so compassionate towards ASD child especially in the mainstream environment. This is something that we need to be realistic about especially in our competitive society. I think if teachers make concessions for our kids due to their conditions is our blessings. If not, we just have to be thick skin and kiasu and keep following up with teachers.

Nowadays, I don't even tell teachers that my kid is special for some of his enrichment classes. Because I want him to be treated normally like any other kid. To the teachers, my boy might seem slow and always day dream. At least they take an effort to tell me where he is weak at, complain about his work and attentiveness.

My goal for my son has always been:
1. Be independent
2. Able to integrate with the mainstream society
3. Able to make a living for himself (this one is something we need to work on at later stage)

However I still baby my son a lot. I need to constantly tell myself to let go. Let him grow up and do things on his own. I am still working on it.

Everyone jiayou!

Hi Nugget,

Glad your son has settled down in his primary school. :rahrah:

Yes, I will always has the deepest gratitude to all the mommies and 1 daddy who supported me thru my darkest moments a few months ago when i just started out. Now I am more at peace with myself. Thank you and do drop by when you are free to update us!

[Couragemom]

MummyOats:

pinkamoon:

I think he learns more at home than in his preschool as teachers did not have time for him. My intention back then was for him to socialise. Except for a terrific learning support teacher, he learnt little in preschool as his awareness was very low. I used to get loads of negative feedback.

My own experience is also similar. At one stage my son (then 4yrs) was attending Special Needs Nursery (5 kids to 1 teacher ratio) in the morning, followed by alternate EIPIC & regular Nursery in the afternoon. His day was really packed and I could not work with him after his school because he was already so tired. However progress was still slow and (horrors) seemed to have plateaued.

I then asked him which school & teacher is No. 1 and he actually wanted the regular Nursery. I pulled him out from the SN Nursery & EIPIC and started him on 5 days regular Nursery. He also joined his elder brother in enrichment classes like gym & swimming (for typical kids). We then had time to \"revise\" what he learned in Nursery. I used to get materials from his teachers and pre-teach him because he is weak in auditory learning. So things like songs may be revised at home so he knows what he is singing and not be so \"blur\".

Interactions between him and the family increased greatly due to him being at home and going out with us more. My typical son effectively became his \"play therapist\". Slowly he blossomed and I am really happy with his progress. He is now in K2 and is definitely interested in friends. Some kids accept him and some do not. Social skills is something we are working on

In hindsight (I think) his progress came partly because he had a lot more time spent with the family. We understand his condition and play/teach him in a way he could understand. He was also lucky that he had great Nursery/Kindy teachers who are kind and would include him in all class activities.

PS (edited) : I forgot to add that I did not forego therapies. He continued on private Speech Therapy once a week. Also complimented by KKH's OT & ST every few months (gotta queue, 4 visits every few months).

Hi MummyOats,

Thanks for sharing your son's schooling decision with us. I guess at that point of time when you made the decision to drop the private school and govt eipic, you really took a big leap of faith. I am very glad to hear that your son is doing well in his class now (Hurray to your mommy spidey sense!)

For my son, I also choose to let him do mainstream pre-school in the morning and supplement with private OT/ST/Sped lessons. Sometimes I will query myself if I make the right decision for him but only time can tell. Keeping my fingers crossed!

[nugget]

Couragemom:

Hi Nugget,

Glad your son has settled down in his primary school. :rahrah:

Yes, I will always has the deepest gratitude to all the mommies and 1 daddy who supported me thru my darkest moments a few months ago when i just started out. Now I am more at peace with myself. Thank you and do drop by when you are free to update us!

Thanks. I think he is doing better than I expected him to be. However he is often alone in school (which I think he is more than happy to be left alone). When it comes to P3 or older, the conversations the kids have will be more abstract and matured. He will definitely be awkward and get single out.

Am thinking of signing him up for taekwando so won't be subjected to bullying. * I tend to think too much and too far*.

Academic wise, I am trying to let him do as much as he can. Need to work on his concentration problem. Was hoping if he can do well academically, he will have more confidence when meeting his classmates.

At the same time, I stopped all the pte therapy too. But I am still hanging on to all the OT and SLT and doing them like once a month.

[nugget]

pinkamoon:

Exactly, I just hope that the school and teachers can be more understanding to these children. My son is beginning to be more 'cooperative'. Hopefully he can sit in class without causing too much disruptions too. :xedfingers:

I think putting your child into a mainstream environment is the right thing to do if you think he can withstand that chaotic environment.

My son dislike his mainstream CC a lot. Kept to himself, doesnt participate in their school work nor play with his classmates. But I think that experience enabled him to strive in his mainstream primary school now.

I do get lots of negative feedback as well. Sadly most of the time teachers just cast him aside, didn't spend time to teach him. He was being left alone. My thought that time was to let him get used to what mainstream environment is like, let him know not everyone will make accommodation for him. He just need to learn how to blend in.

I think how he is able to strive now also attribute to his training in mainstream CC. However this time in primary school, he is given a fair chance. The teachers didn't outcast him like in CC last time. Probably that's why he is more motivated.

Anyway, its a long long journey... I also don't know if I am doing right for my son or not, but we just have to take a leap of faith

[pinkamoon]

nugget:

pinkamoon:

Anyway, its a long long journey... I also don't know if I am doing right for my son or not, but we just have to take a leap of faith

Hi nugget! Me too. I do not whether it is the right thing to do but I guess I will not know until I try. There is no undo button in life and I do not have the ability to tell fortunes, so just do it!

Thanks for sharing about your son's school life. Love to hear more abt it and some advices from u too.

[Double E]

nugget:

Couragemom:

Hi Nugget,

Glad your son has settled down in his primary school. :rahrah:

Yes, I will always has the deepest gratitude to all the mommies and 1 daddy who supported me thru my darkest moments a few months ago when i just started out. Now I am more at peace with myself. Thank you and do drop by when you are free to update us!

Thanks. I think he is doing better than I expected him to be. However he is often alone in school (which I think he is more than happy to be left alone). When it comes to P3 or older, the conversations the kids have will be more abstract and matured. He will definitely be awkward and get single out.

Am thinking of signing him up for taekwando so won't be subjected to bullying. * I tend to think too much and too far*.

Academic wise, I am trying to let him do as much as he can. Need to work on his concentration problem. Was hoping if he can do well academically, he will have more confidence when meeting his classmates.

At the same time, I stopped all the pte therapy too. But I am still hanging on to all the OT and SLT and doing them like once a month.

Hi Nugget, good to hear from you again.
On your son having no friends in school, was it something u observe or he told you? you know, this is one thing that I fear most. I know is not the most impt thing among many others that we need to settle but I think I will be heart broken to see my son walking around in school alone and eats alone. The thought of it already make me tear. On the contrary, Mashy's son seems to be able to make friends, I remembered her saying the son has a few good friends.

Also, did you declare your son's condition to the school and did they send an Allied Educator to assist him? how has it been with the Allied educator so far?

Thanks, trying to understand more to help me make my decision for next year as he will need to be registered for P1.

[pinkamoon]

Hi Double E, I think we do not have to worry too much about the friends aspect for our kids.


I brought my son to Dr Sundardas for treatment 2 years ago. He told me he has aspergers and was without friends in his schooling years. From what he told me, he chose his friends, not the other way round.
I guess they themselves are not bothered, and we are the ones getting worried.

The social skills will improve with their alertness improving. My son's social skills are still weak too. His way of 'socialising' with children at the playground is asking them to go this way, that way, come down from this slide etc and tell them 'I will be back tomorrow' when we leave. :slapshead:

My husband also expressed concerns over his inability to foster proper friendship, but we can only give him more time to develop this area.

[Double E]

pinkamoon:

Hi Double E, I think we do not have to worry too much about the friends aspect for our kids.


I brought my son to Dr Sundardas for treatment 2 years ago. He told me he has aspergers and was without friends in his schooling years. From what he told me, he chose his friends, not the other way round.
I guess they themselves are not bothered, and we are the ones getting worried.

The social skills will improve with their alertness improving. My son's social skills are still weak too. His way of 'socialising' with children at the playground is asking them to go this way, that way, come down from this slide etc and tell them 'I will be back tomorrow' when we leave. :slapshead:

My husband also expressed concerns over his inability to foster proper friendship, but we can only give him more time to develop this area.

Thanks for sharing. Is true my son don't seem quite bothered whether or not he has friends. Is just me, not able to comprehend that.

For now, I don't know if he has forged any friendship with his kindy class mates. But today, as I was waving him goodbye, he was holding hands with a boy, getting ready to get on the bus for a field trip. The boy saw me waving at my son, and he held my son's hands up to make him wave back to me. My son then shouted Goodbye to me. It is indeed heartwarming to know some of his classmates do look out for him.