Regulatory Kids and Bad Play Dates

[Anonymous]

His preschool is good about making easy accommodations like having the class sit in chairs instead of on the carpet. No big deal to them. He only has 7 kids in the class so there is less noise (he is hypersensitive to too much noise) and less movement in general. I think I will ask his teacher is I can bring him 10-15 mins early to school next year to run off some steam on the playground before school starts. That might help w/ him needing more physical exercise early in the day (his recess isn't until 11am or so at the end of preschool). I am not sure how keen private schools are about making accommodations though. His OT says he does much better w/ seatwork if he sits on a wiggle seat. No big deal I would think since I would provide one for him. He does well w/ a schedule too and knowing when transitions are about to occur. Also, no big deal I would think. I guess I can always observe at some schools to actually see how the teachers run their classrooms. More structure=less surprises=my happy son.

[Anonymous]

Offering two private school 'points of view': 1) Some private schools do not have the training to address regulatory or sensory issues. It's better that they know/see beforehand and reject a student if they cannot accommodate him/her, as in the end it is not the school that loses, but the kid. 2) Fortunately, many experienced teachers and administrators of private schools actually have more insight in observing 'typical' child behavior at a playdate and can spot a kid who cannot handle transitions, circle time, peer to peer interaction, listening--than most.