All About Autism
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Hi Cool Cool,
Which private eipic you are with? How many hours per week?
They can cover so many things?
My son eipic, only has circle time, some sensory play and art, playgym, hydrothetapy and snack time. That’s all.
I can’t find any pretend play toys in the class room!
Not much 1 on 1 OT and ST too. The therapist will only come in once in a while and advice teachers what to do.
No story telling session, no specific language session.
Maybe they think the kids are not able to do certain things such as pretend play and listening to story. So they don’t have these activities in the class. -
Hi bs1975,
My son is with Dynamics. The EIP runs 5-days a week with flexible options for 2, 3, or 5-day attendance. Dynamics offers half-day and full-days programs listed below.
9:00am – 12:00pm (Half Day)
1:30pm – 4:30pm (Half Day)
9:00am – 2:00pm (Full Day)
He is attending 3 days (half day) a week. How old is your son? My son is 3 yrs old and no speech yet. They have different classes according to condition and age of the kids. The lessons I listed are from their class’s time table for 5 days. My son misses out some of the lessons since he attends only 3 days. There may be some differences in lessons depending on the class.
Their ST and OT classes are not one to one also. It’s a group therapy. The therapist will be in the class for one section (30 min) with the students and the teachers.
After every class, the teacher briefs you what your LO did in the class. And they will also pass a written report 2 times a month.
It’s a subsidized private one but you have to go through with SG enable, I think. -
bs1975:
Hi bs1975!Hi experienced mummies,
Can share with me how EIPIC will help my kids in term of speech, joint attention, compliance and sensory issue.
My boy has attended eipic since last month and most of the time are spent on snack time, playground, art and craft. These things are also taught in childcare. I wonder how will these activities address his problem.
Today we have IEP meeting to set goal. Their expectation is very low as they set easy goals.
I really doubt if the so called early intervention is effective.
I can share some of my experiences with you. My son was at Clementi EIPIC Centre when he was 4+. The teachers started the day with simple songs, checking attendance, weather, date and time. They use a chart with picture cards to engage the children. They also used simple instruments and played music. After that, there was snack time which was followed by simple work for the children. He had to match words-pictures and the teachers used a visual time table so that the children know what were the tasks they were supposed to finish.
When he was 6, it was like a classroom setting. Teachers used white board and children had desk bound work to do. Some simple copying, writing, stapling and filing. They also had 20-30 mins of OT time per week.
There were some pretend play toys in one of the rooms for children who arrived early.
The difference between EIPIC and CC is the teacher-pupil ratio and patience. In CC, our children do not get as much 1-1 attention. However, in EIPIC centre, the teachers are able to guide them better.
From my experience, I had to spend a lot of time guiding and playing with my son as well as reinforcing things taught in school and at EIPIC centre. Very often, our children do not only have autism but also attention deficit which impedes their learning as well.
You asked how EIPIC centre can help your child, I feel that, you must first identify which area your son is weak in. You have to zoom in to the root of the problem to help him. For my son, his problems were:
1) sleeping issues
2) head banging on sofa
3) poor self regulation
4) poor communication
5) stimming
6) poor eye contact
So, I had to work on his issues first before he could reap more benefits out of the interventions he was receiving. When I started dietary interventions with him, I resolved problem 1,2. Regulation became better and he could understand more.
The same thing with my daughters, I sent them to Mindchamps before transferring them to a Montessori school. I had to spend a lot of time with my son and had no time to monitor their progress. However, their learning was poor and at age 4, they had problems with learning and ABCs. Writing Chinese characters were even more difficult for them. Even after sending them for phonics lessons, they were still weak in reading. Now, I have found out the root of their problem. They have some attention deficit, thus they cannot focus well. No wonder during meal times and homework time they always fall asleep! -
Key problem of my boy:
1) no joint attention
2) no speech at 2.5 years old
3) tip toe
4) non compliance ie only want to do things he likes.
Current Eipic focuses on motor skills and I don’t understand why they don’t focus on communication as all his classmates are non verbal.
Eg for lesson today, they spend 10 mins walking backward on slope, 15 mins free play in classroom, 30 mins sensory play (scoop salt and sprinkle salt on glue), 20 mins on snack, 15 mins circle time.
How these activities can address my boy’s problem?! -
They don’t make use of every activity to teach the kids.
For example, at playground, they just let the kids run around. In my opinion, they can teach turn taking when the kids are playing on the slides. -
bs1975:
I think that doing things in a group will help with all the things you pointed out, even if not very directly, especially 1 and 4. With more need to communicate because of being in a group, speech will be encouraged. And more physical activity may help him stop tip-toeing.Key problem of my boy:
1) no joint attention
2) no speech at 2.5 years old
3) tip toe
4) non compliance ie only want to do things he likes.
Current Eipic focuses on motor skills and I don't understand why they don't focus on communication as all his classmates are non verbal.
Eg for lesson today, they spend 10 mins walking backward on slope, 15 mins free play in classroom, 30 mins sensory play (scoop salt and sprinkle salt on glue), 20 mins on snack, 15 mins circle time.
How these activities can address my boy's problem?! -
bs1975
Perhaps you may want to try engaging the EIPIC teacher in charge to find out more about what are the objectives of their daily program, and why they are doing what they are doing? Sometimes its really a case of touching base, clarifying things, managing expectations - keeping open communications.
With that you would be in a better position to assess if the program really suits your needs and to clear any doubts.
Two cents worth. -
Dear Mummies,
I need your help any good student care nearby Woodlands or Yishun. My son is ADHD and he been with Dedicated student care for 2+ years but recently due to his mischevious they can't keep him anymore and now I need to find a good student care to take care of him. He 9 years old and study at Pathlight.
Appreciate if you have any good student care who can accept ADHD kids. Home based also can so long the cost not too expensive. :thankyou: -
bs1975:
Hi bs1975,Key problem of my boy:
1) no joint attention
2) no speech at 2.5 years old
3) tip toe
4) non compliance ie only want to do things he likes.
Current Eipic focuses on motor skills and I don't understand why they don't focus on communication as all his classmates are non verbal.
Eg for lesson today, they spend 10 mins walking backward on slope, 15 mins free play in classroom, 30 mins sensory play (scoop salt and sprinkle salt on glue), 20 mins on snack, 15 mins circle time.
How these activities can address my boy's problem?!
I know you are anxious to help your child but it will not be an easy journey. The teachers are at EIPIC centre will not be able to address all the issues of our children and like what slmkhoo mentioned, joint attention and compliance will be something EIPIC centre is trying to help our children achieve through group work.
I understand how u feel because I felt the same way too. When I sent my child for OT sessions, I thought I did not like it because the sessions targeted only at improving his motor skills etc without the need for my son to speak. Like what some forumers commented, an OT session is an OT session. In the end, floor time is more suitable to my ideal kind of OT session. Ultimately, I dropped OT totally and focused on Sonrise Programme. So, you must assess the situation and review the programme yourself.
Like what ImMeeMee suggested, have a talk to the teachers and have a more in depth discussion with the teachers, bearing in mind there can never be a one size fits all kind of intervention. The same kind of intervention conducted by different persons may yield different results too.
Some studies suggest that tiptoeing maybe a sign of magnesium deficiency. You may wish to buy some Epsom salt from the pharmacy and soak your son in the bath tub. I used to soak my son inside water with 1/3 dissolved Epsom salt (warm) everyday after bathtime for 15-20 mins, then dabbed dry his body. He did not tiptoe though. You may wish to try.
Sometimes children do not speak because their needs are addressed. So, instead of bring food to him, you may want him to come to you to ask for food, for instance. Also, it is important to speak a lot to our children as they model after us. It may be good to talk to him about everything eg. Let's put on uniform, we are going to school etc. This is something I learnt from my experience. My NT daughter did not speak at 2+. After staying with my talkative niece for 2 weeks, she returned home so chatty that she could not stop talking.
Hope my sharing is useful to you. -
pinkamoon:
This is very true. My Aspie girl did not speak single words until 2yo even with me constantly talking to her. If I hadn't, I don't know when she would have talked! But once she decided to start talking, she went to complete sentences within a few months, so I reckon it was all there in her head, just that she didn't see the need to talk. I also agree that creating the need to talk, making them answer yes or no etc, is a good encouragement to talk.Sometimes children do not speak because their needs are addressed. So, instead of bring food to him, you may want him to come to you to ask for food, for instance. Also, it is important to speak a lot to our children as they model after us. It may be good to talk to him about everything eg. Let's put on uniform, we are going to school etc. This is something I learnt from my experience. My NT daughter did not speak at 2+. After staying with my talkative niece for 2 weeks, she returned home so chatty that she could not stop talking.
Hope my sharing is useful to you.
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