Out of summer childcare options for a 2E almost 5 year old boy

[Anonymous]

We have hired two different special needs teachers to watch our son. We are paying $18 an hour. Is your son easier when he is at his own house? This may be an option as he won't be forced to do anything specific.. no transitions etc. My husband and I are also shifting our schedules to reduce the amount of time our son is with childcare providers, is that at all a possibility for you?

[Anonymous]

Does he actually have a diagnosis? Sensory integration isn't in the DSM. Not to say sensory issues don't exist, but even if the behavioral issues are related to being born prematurely, more than likely there is a specific diagnosis as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you get that it doesn't matter at this point if he's gifted intellectually. He needs to be somewhere that focuses on communicating verbally and self regulating. There are lots of places that can address this:

Check out Frost, Lourie, Kennedy Krieger in MoCo, Ivymount etc.:
http://msde.state.md.us/nonpublic/nsab_directory/ApprovedSchoolLocations.asp?Condition=SpecialEducation

+1. Your child needs a therapeutic setting where they can deal with his issues. Putting him into regular daycare will only put you where you are now - having to find another childcare situation.

[Anonymous]

Have you tried Leaps and Bounds? fitness for health? Any social skills camps?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried Leaps and Bounds? fitness for health? Any social skills camps?

Most places are not going to take a child who acts violently toward other kids and adults. Probably why they got rejected by Camp Aristotle.

[Anonymous]

OP I feel for you and wish I could offer suggestions. These therapeutic camps sound like a great idea. Do what you can-- don't quit your job.

My DS (now seven) threw horrendous tantrums at home (not daycare- although he was very willful). It got significantly better at five and 1/2, by six the tantrums had nearly dissipated. I don't know why or what suddenly clicked- like you, we tried everything to no avail. Also, he *started* becoming aggressive and destructive a 2 1/2, peaked at five, and rapidly gained more self control.

Now at seven my DS is emotionally highly sensitive and intense. I believe that the tantrums stemmed from sensory issues (greatly improved) and high anxiety that may eventually become clinical.

Best to you OP. I'm sharing because I see some folks are "down" on you. I wanted to let you know that age may actually improve things, but it may be like six or seven instead of four or five.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I feel for you and wish I could offer suggestions. These therapeutic camps sound like a great idea. Do what you can-- don't quit your job.

My DS (now seven) threw horrendous tantrums at home (not daycare- although he was very willful). It got significantly better at five and 1/2, by six the tantrums had nearly dissipated. I don't know why or what suddenly clicked- like you, we tried everything to no avail. Also, he *started* becoming aggressive and destructive a 2 1/2, peaked at five, and rapidly gained more self control.

Now at seven my DS is emotionally highly sensitive and intense. I believe that the tantrums stemmed from sensory issues (greatly improved) and high anxiety that may eventually become clinical.

Best to you OP. I'm sharing because I see some folks are "down" on you. I wanted to let you know that age may actually improve things, but it may be like six or seven instead of four or five.

OP here
Thank you for suggestions and your kindness

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have hired two different special needs teachers to watch our son. We are paying $18 an hour. Is your son easier when he is at his own house? This may be an option as he won't be forced to do anything specific.. no transitions etc. My husband and I are also shifting our schedules to reduce the amount of time our son is with childcare providers, is that at all a possibility for you?

OP here
Thank you for the suggestion. We tried doing this for a short period. Unfortunately our sitter recently left for grad school. We haven't tried 2 sitters though. Also my husband and I both have jobs that give us flexibility, but we both have a lot of responsibility and it be came very difficult for both of us to get our work done. Thanks again

[Anonymous]

Can your DH take fmla leave over the summer? You wouldnt qualify since your job is new, but if you have a cooperative doctor to sign the paperwork and his company has more than 50 employees, that would get you through the summer without the ling term consequences of quitting your job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried Leaps and Bounds? fitness for health? Any social skills camps?

Most places are not going to take a child who acts violently toward other kids and adults. Probably why they got rejected by Camp Aristotle.

This is probably true.

OP, I'd consider one of these camps (if there's space) but you may also want to provide a facilitator as well. Normally, I wouldn't suggest any kind of shadow, but it may be necessary in the short term for your kid to get some social skills under his belt.

I know these camps are ridiculously expensive but it sounds like your kid's behavior issues are only going to get worse for him b/c it's going to become more socially unacceptable for him to act out like this.

You and he deserve a lot of credit for addressing everything you you've had to go through, so definitely not trying to judge. It's exhausting and stressful for everyone. I'd definitely look at one of the therapeutic schools. If he's intellectually gifted he still will be down the line. I'm sure he doesn't want to behave in ways that get him kicked out of schools or rejected from camps. Good luck to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you get that it doesn't matter at this point if he's gifted intellectually. He needs to be somewhere that focuses on communicating verbally and self regulating. There are lots of places that can address this:

Check out Frost, Lourie, Kennedy Krieger in MoCo, Ivymount etc.:
http://msde.state.md.us/nonpublic/nsab_directory/ApprovedSchoolLocations.asp?Condition=SpecialEducation

+1. Your child needs a therapeutic setting where they can deal with his issues. Putting him into regular daycare will only put you where you are now - having to find another childcare situation.

Eh. I've made that work. I just had multiple options lined up for the summer and moved the kid between them -- Y to church to park district to activity camp to home based daycare. When I found one that worked, we stayed there.

[Anonymous]

OP-- what is your long term plan to get your son the help he needs? We've all had to scramble for child care at one time or another. Moving a child between settings is not optimal as you know but can't be helped sometimes. The summer is here and you'll do the best you can now. But what are your long term plans?

Does you child have an IEP? Will he be attending public K in the fall? Is he getting weekly behavioral therapy? What about family therapy? Is he in a social skills group? Have you looked into a therapeutic environment for him?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you get that it doesn't matter at this point if he's gifted intellectually. He needs to be somewhere that focuses on communicating verbally and self regulating. There are lots of places that can address this:

Check out Frost, Lourie, Kennedy Krieger in MoCo, Ivymount etc.:
http://msde.state.md.us/nonpublic/nsab_directory/ApprovedSchoolLocations.asp?Condition=SpecialEducation

+1. Your child needs a therapeutic setting where they can deal with his issues. Putting him into regular daycare will only put you where you are now - having to find another childcare situation.

Eh. I've made that work. I just had multiple options lined up for the summer and moved the kid between them -- Y to church to park district to activity camp to home based daycare. When I found one that worked, we stayed there.

If you read her posts, it sounds like OP has tried most places and has run out of options. Therapeutic camp sounds like the best bet to try to help with behaviors prior to K. Next best would be a SN nanny to watch him over the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP-- what is your long term plan to get your son the help he needs? We've all had to scramble for child care at one time or another. Moving a child between settings is not optimal as you know but can't be helped sometimes. The summer is here and you'll do the best you can now. But what are your long term plans?

Does you child have an IEP? Will he be attending public K in the fall? Is he getting weekly behavioral therapy? What about family therapy? Is he in a social skills group? Have you looked into a therapeutic environment for him?

I am not the OP, but I have a five-year-old who hits (although with decreasing frequency thanks to interventions). Even when you have all of the things you listed in place, it may take a year or more for the behavior to be extinguished. Changing certain children's behavior takes time, especially if they suffer from anxiety or sensory issues.

OP. I'm sorry you are going through this, but things will get better with time and effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you get that it doesn't matter at this point if he's gifted intellectually. He needs to be somewhere that focuses on communicating verbally and self regulating. There are lots of places that can address this:

Check out Frost, Lourie, Kennedy Krieger in MoCo, Ivymount etc.:
http://msde.state.md.us/nonpublic/nsab_directory/ApprovedSchoolLocations.asp?Condition=SpecialEducation

+1. Your child needs a therapeutic setting where they can deal with his issues. Putting him into regular daycare will only put you where you are now - having to find another childcare situation.

Eh. I've made that work. I just had multiple options lined up for the summer and moved the kid between them -- Y to church to park district to activity camp to home based daycare. When I found one that worked, we stayed there.

If you read her posts, it sounds like OP has tried most places and has run out of options. Therapeutic camp sounds like the best bet to try to help with behaviors prior to K. Next best would be a SN nanny to watch him over the summer.

DC is a big town. It's not possible to have tried every single option. My child did best from age 5 to 10 in a church daycare. It was staffed with adults from the church and they were extremely caring and patient. They didn't put up with any crap, but they had a lot of patience for redirecting.