Friends daughter has a speech delay and my kids ask questions to the mom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please help your children grow up and not be ignorant a**holes. Akward? You direct them to her mom? Jfc. How about teach your children that everyone is different, and that's ok. She doesn't need to be able to speak so they can play. Also, there are plenty of other ways to communicate. At those ages it's a non-issue.

Agree! I thought it was odd that she directs her kids to talk to the other child’s mom.

[Anonymous]

As a preschool teacher, it breaks my heart that this child hasn’t had intervention. Sure, some kids can make up for the late talking, but she’s missing out on a really crucial phase of communication. I would keep doing what you’re doing. Unfortunately, many parents don’t seek help (with a host of things) until they see the negative effects on their child, socially. For example, in a class of 2 year olds, everyone poops in their pants. In a three year old class, some do, some don’t, but the other kids don’t think much of it. In a 4 year old class, kids start noticing that something is different about the kid who is still having accidents all the time. Now, if that is due to a disability, etc. the class can have a conversation about differences, inclusion, etc. But my point is that “just letting things take care of themselves” is a strategy that can backfire and result in more stress and discomfort in the long run than just addressing a potential problem early on.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s weird that other people think it’s weird that yo ur kids have noticed! My 3 year old had noticed that one of her friends doesn’t really talk. She makes sounds, which her parents understand, but my daughter and i generally don’t understand what she is saying. I didn’t say anything to o my daughter about it until she asked me why her friend doesn’t talk. I told her I don’t know, but she does other things to let us know what she wants to play or what she needs, and doing things differently is ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My good friends daughter is about to turn 3. The child has a pretty significant speech delay, but my friend hasn’t sought out early intervention and knows “she’ll speak eventually”. The child just started stringing words together into sentences and most of it is unintelligible. Most of them when we visit (monthly or so) she is silent the whole time.

I don’t talk to my friend about this and she doesn’t ask my advice.

My question is about my OWN kids, who are 3 and 5. We visit every so often, but my kids aren’t sure how to communicate with her. I am a huge advocate for diversity, communicating with different kids, etc. When we visit, I encourage them to play with the child and talk and play, but they’ll say (as kids do) “but she doesn’t talk!” I guide them to her mom, or give examples on how she communicates, and remind them that she does understand and to include her.

It’s awkward. Help.

Good lord, you should have taught your children a long time ago that it is very bad manners to ask personal questions of anyone, including family members. I suggest you start teaching them now. As for your friend, I would not allow you or your children around my child again. Try to imagine how that child felt because your brats have not been taught social graces and pointed out her disability. You are disgusting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a preschool teacher, it breaks my heart that this child hasn’t had intervention. Sure, some kids can make up for the late talking, but she’s missing out on a really crucial phase of communication. I would keep doing what you’re doing. Unfortunately, many parents don’t seek help (with a host of things) until they see the negative effects on their child, socially. For example, in a class of 2 year olds, everyone poops in their pants. In a three year old class, some do, some don’t, but the other kids don’t think much of it. In a 4 year old class, kids start noticing that something is different about the kid who is still having accidents all the time. Now, if that is due to a disability, etc. the class can have a conversation about differences, inclusion, etc. But my point is that “just letting things take care of themselves” is a strategy that can backfire and result in more stress and discomfort in the long run than just addressing a potential problem early on.

We don't know if there has been intervention or not. I can tell you as a parent with an extremely late talker I don't think any of the speech therapy was worthwhile from ages 2-3 and we would have had the same outcome if we stared it later. We didn't tell anyone about what we were doing, especially nosey people like OP or our gossiping preschool teacher (we ended up leaving one preschool as they were so neglectful). And, you clearly don't get speech delays if your comments are about pooping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My good friends daughter is about to turn 3. The child has a pretty significant speech delay, but my friend hasn’t sought out early intervention and knows “she’ll speak eventually”. The child just started stringing words together into sentences and most of it is unintelligible. Most of them when we visit (monthly or so) she is silent the whole time.

I don’t talk to my friend about this and she doesn’t ask my advice.

My question is about my OWN kids, who are 3 and 5. We visit every so often, but my kids aren’t sure how to communicate with her. I am a huge advocate for diversity, communicating with different kids, etc. When we visit, I encourage them to play with the child and talk and play, but they’ll say (as kids do) “but she doesn’t talk!” I guide them to her mom, or give examples on how she communicates, and remind them that she does understand and to include her.

It’s awkward. Help.

Good lord, you should have taught your children a long time ago that it is very bad manners to ask personal questions of anyone, including family members. I suggest you start teaching them now. As for your friend, I would not allow you or your children around my child again. Try to imagine how that child felt because your brats have not been taught social graces and pointed out her disability. You are disgusting.

NP. You're ridiculous. And your insults say more about you than OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised your kids that age are noticing and verbalizing that. My son had a really significant speech delay, but in the preschool age range it just wasn't a problem when playing with other kids. Try doing something physical - bikes/trikes, playground, etc.

+1, my super chatty children have never mentioned kids who have significant delays...
Also, it may really be nothing. Both of my kids were delayed, significantly so, and both never.stop.talking. now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My good friends daughter is about to turn 3. The child has a pretty significant speech delay, but my friend hasn’t sought out early intervention and knows “she’ll speak eventually”. The child just started stringing words together into sentences and most of it is unintelligible. Most of them when we visit (monthly or so) she is silent the whole time.

I don’t talk to my friend about this and she doesn’t ask my advice.

My question is about my OWN kids, who are 3 and 5. We visit every so often, but my kids aren’t sure how to communicate with her. I am a huge advocate for diversity, communicating with different kids, etc. When we visit, I encourage them to play with the child and talk and play, but they’ll say (as kids do) “but she doesn’t talk!” I guide them to her mom, or give examples on how she communicates, and remind them that she does understand and to include her.

It’s awkward. Help.

Good lord, you should have taught your children a long time ago that it is very bad manners to ask personal questions of anyone, including family members. I suggest you start teaching them now. As for your friend, I would not allow you or your children around my child again. Try to imagine how that child felt because your brats have not been taught social graces and pointed out her disability. You are disgusting.

NP. You're ridiculous. And your insults say more about you than OP.

Another parent who doesn't teach their children vmanners.

[Anonymous]

The few comments were really harsh.

I welcome questions from kids who are a little puzzled by daughter, who has Down Syndrome. There can never be enough education! But sure enough, kids will listen for about a minute and then they all get back to playing together. It's good to ask and understand. After all, your kids and my daughter will be in the same classroom soon, thanks to the good sense of inclusion in schools.