Where to find a private pre-k classroom aide? Hourly Rate?

[Anonymous]

Looking for advice on the best way to find a private pre-k classroom aide. Any insight on how best to reach a prospective audience would be so appreciated. Also, what is a good hourly rate to pay an aide who will work 9-12 (schedule adhere to school calendar)?

Really appreciate any advice.


-----a snippet of the job description but the main responsibility------
We are seeking a reliable private classroom aide for our 4 year old daughter with a significant expressive speech delay. She has no behavioral or emotional issues and is not autistic.

Due to her speech delay, we had previously kept her out of school to focus on intensive speech therapy. She has just started pre-k but does not know how to independently play pretend or play with peers. We are looking for an energetic, experienced caregiver who is able to model and narrate play to expand our daughter’s play experience. This person will take daughter’s play to the next level with creativity and enthusiasm to keep her engaged in a preschool environment (both classroom and playground). Additionally, the aide will integrate her play into the wider class and into peer cooperative play.  

[Anonymous]

Not knowing how to pretend play or play with peers sounds pretty autistic to me.

[Anonymous]

I think the best way to hire and actually retain an aide is to fully disclose your daughter's diagnoses. If she's 4 and doesn't know how to play, there's clearly something going on beyond expressive speech delay. Infants don't have expressive speech but they play all the time. So what's going on?

As for hiring I would look for a college student or a stay-at-home mom, because they might be more able to work the hours you need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not knowing how to pretend play or play with peers sounds pretty autistic to me.

She’s not. She knows how to play. It’s taking it to the next level. For example she will play with barns and animals but we’re looking for someone to expand on that - the animals are going into a spaceship and have a dance party on the moon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not knowing how to pretend play or play with peers sounds pretty autistic to me.

Severe anxiety can inhibit pretend play. It happened to 2 of my three kids. Neurotypical except for the anxiety.

Also what an unhelpful thing to say to someone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the best way to hire and actually retain an aide is to fully disclose your daughter's diagnoses. If she's 4 and doesn't know how to play, there's clearly something going on beyond expressive speech delay. Infants don't have expressive speech but they play all the time. So what's going on?

As for hiring I would look for a college student or a stay-at-home mom, because they might be more able to work the hours you need.

She knows how to play. It’s taking it to the next level. For example she will play with barns and animals but we’re looking for someone to expand on that - the animals are going into a spaceship and have a dance party on the moon.

[Anonymous]

I think you need to decide if you're targeting someone who's knowledgeable in preschool special needs, or someone who isn't, and then adjust your language accordingly. Maybe make two postings.

[Anonymous]

I think your preschool should be helping you with this or you should be looking for another one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not knowing how to pretend play or play with peers sounds pretty autistic to me.

She’s not. She knows how to play. It’s taking it to the next level. For example she will play with barns and animals but we’re looking for someone to expand on that - the animals are going into a spaceship and have a dance party on the moon.

Does she have any diagnosis related to this, other than the expressive language diagnosis?

You don't want your post to read like you're in denial or hiding something. Expressive language delay does not cause lack of next-level play skills. It's ok if you don't have a firm diagnosis yet, but to me reading this post, it feels like there's a gap in your description of your daughter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not knowing how to pretend play or play with peers sounds pretty autistic to me.

She’s not. She knows how to play. It’s taking it to the next level. For example she will play with barns and animals but we’re looking for someone to expand on that - the animals are going into a spaceship and have a dance party on the moon.

Does she have any diagnosis related to this, other than the expressive language diagnosis?

You don't want your post to read like you're in denial or hiding something. Expressive language delay does not cause lack of next-level play skills. It's ok if you don't have a firm diagnosis yet, but to me reading this post, it feels like there's a gap in your description of your daughter.

Thanks. I will update the job description accordingly. And yes, we do have an official diagnosis.

[Anonymous]

Can you get an IEP? My son (also doesn't have ADHD or autism but had some motor, speech/language, and mild cognitive delays (avg IQ these days at 6)) had an IEP for OT, speech, and sped in preschool. He went to private Montessori preschool but the sped teacher, OT, and speech therapist came itinerantly and they all worked on play skills as part of his IEP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not knowing how to pretend play or play with peers sounds pretty autistic to me.

She’s not. She knows how to play. It’s taking it to the next level. For example she will play with barns and animals but we’re looking for someone to expand on that - the animals are going into a spaceship and have a dance party on the moon.

Does she have any diagnosis related to this, other than the expressive language diagnosis?

You don't want your post to read like you're in denial or hiding something. Expressive language delay does not cause lack of next-level play skills. It's ok if you don't have a firm diagnosis yet, but to me reading this post, it feels like there's a gap in your description of your daughter.

Thanks. I will update the job description accordingly. And yes, we do have an official diagnosis.

Why did you leave out the diagnosis that goes specifically to the thing you want the aide to address? Isn't that like, kind of the point of the ad?

[Anonymous]

I would plan on paying at least $20-25 an hour, with the higher end being more likely. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

We did something like this at the same age but to address behavioral problems that were relatively minor but the school was very unwilling to tolerate even for a 4 year old. We paid $100 for a morning. We got lucky and got connected a different way but were recommended to look at grad students working on social work degrees at nearby schools.

I don’t understand why you want this to happen at the preschool? That seems like a time for the kid to engage with the other kids. I also don’t really understand the desperation for “next level play”. One of my kids was like this and is still not a fan of a lot of pretend play but now mostly socializes through sports and things like that. Did a professional suggest this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did something like this at the same age but to address behavioral problems that were relatively minor but the school was very unwilling to tolerate even for a 4 year old. We paid $100 for a morning. We got lucky and got connected a different way but were recommended to look at grad students working on social work degrees at nearby schools.

I don’t understand why you want this to happen at the preschool? That seems like a time for the kid to engage with the other kids. I also don’t really understand the desperation for “next level play”. One of my kids was like this and is still not a fan of a lot of pretend play but now mostly socializes through sports and things like that. Did a professional suggest this?

I’m not concerned about this at all so I wouldn’t say I’m desperate. The school is and they won’t let it go. She’s been going to school for 17 days vs her peers who have been going for years. It’s insane I agree. People tend to freak out when they learn of her expressive speech problem because they can’t wrap their head around that she’s neurotypical in every way except isn’t taking her farm animals to the moon or independently build a car garage out of blocks