Your NT child as a peer model?

[Anonymous]

We may have the opportunity to have our NT child (his older brother has HFA) as a peer model in a preschool classroom. Has anyone done this? How was the experience? Any downside?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We may have the opportunity to have our NT child (his older brother has HFA) as a peer model in a preschool classroom. Has anyone done this? How was the experience? Any downside?

As a parent of a SN child, I HATE the term, 'peer model'. I feel that my SN child models many postiive behaviors from which most so-called 'NT' children could benefit.

I don't which school system you mean, but I prefer a model where there is true inclusion, where there are 50% NT kids, 50% SN kids. I know that's not usually the case, but is possible. I know I didn't answer your question, but my skin just crawls everytime I hear that term. Sorry, but I don't think it is a good 'model' if it's one kid who is supposedly the MODEL and the others are supposed to follow from his/her example.

[Anonymous]

Op here, lets go with peer "pal" or peer "buddy". To be clear my older HFA son is in a similar class and I have no issue with the term peer model. We all find people to emulate to improve ourselves.

[Anonymous]

Not sure what age you are talking about, but it seems like you are putting a lot of pressure on the "peer model". I wouldn't do it. Let your NT child be a child.

[Anonymous]

"Peer model" is the correct, appropriate term and the PP's disproportionate reaction to it sounds more like a personal issue. My middle child was a NT peer model in a county special ed preschool the year before she started kindergarten. It was a fantastic experience for her and us. At that young age, they don't seem to think too much about the other kids being different. They like going to school, playing with their friends and engaging in activitities of the class - and talk about being exposed to high quality teaching! I'd hate to think what I'd have to pay to have such high quality teachers with such a low student/teacher ratio. I wish she'd done it earlier.

Being a peer model isn't just for NT kids. My oldest is SN and has been asked to serve as a peer model during OT sessions, particularly with kids who are having social and self-regulation issues. It benefits him as much as it does the other kids. It reinforces his positive behaviors and boosts his confidence. The same thing happened when my middle child was a peer model. When they see a kid struggling to do something, they use very encouraging words with the child. That encouragement has clearly been modeled for them and they're applying what they've learned. Then, when they later struggle with something, we use those words with them, remind them how "Johnny" struggled but kept trying and how that was the important thing - to keep trying and do your best work. It doesn't matter whether your kid is NT or SN, peer models are great.

Oh - my youngest has been in a county special ed preschool since he was two. He's SN and definitely benefits from having a NT peer model in his classroom.

[Anonymous]

Thank you 21:15, this is OP. This is what I was looking for and confirms my instincts.

[Anonymous]

My sister's kids in Washington State were both peer models in a public preschool at 4 and they loved it! The program was for kids with language delays and it was very important for those kids to have a bunch of people in the classroom talking. Many of the SN kids in the classroom go on to be considered NT later- they are just delayed in language. It was much more stimulating than daycare. The teacher was a master a differentiated instruction. The kids (now 7 and 10) are both very sensitive about people with SN; they have a very close friend who is on the spectrum; they are also reading far above grade level while being pretty average otherwise and I think the high quality preschool helped with that. My sister is a speech pathologist and that was how she learned about it- there are also often siblings of SN kids as peer models.

[Anonymous]

06/24/2010 21:15 Subject: Your NT child as a peer model?
Anonymous



"Peer model" is the correct, appropriate term and the PP's disproportionate reaction to it sounds more like a personal issue


Not the PP to whom you refer, but you'd better believe I take it as a 'personal' issue, as did my ds when he repeatedly heard his classroom co-teacher refer to the 'peer models'. He asked them and us, 'Why are they so special to be called a model?" I also HATE the term, and agree that my well behaved, bright SN child could be seen as the 'model' in many classroom situations.

You are wrong. Kids do see 'differences'. They do not process or elaborate on them as do older kids and adults, but they sense and know who is there for what. It definitely backfired for my very observant SN kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: It doesn't matter whether your kid is NT or SN, peer models are great

THIS.

My DD was a peer model and it was a win win for everyone. The SN children had a strong language model and NT DD benefited from the other children's friendship, the opportunity to learn that everyone has their own unique needs and abilities and exposure to an awesome preschool program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: We all find people to emulate to improve ourselves.

I agree with this and have no problem with the term "peer model". It sounds like some PPs have had some poor special ed teachers if the peer model was singled out in a way that made their kids feel they had nothing positive to contribute.