Anonymous
Post 10/07/2025 05:42     Subject: Where to find a private pre-k classroom aide? Hourly Rate?
I agree with the pp who recommended a developmental pediatrician. Speech therapists and OT will work on symptoms, they won’t give you a comprehensive picture of what’s going on.
Anonymous
Post 10/06/2025 22:11     Subject: Where to find a private pre-k classroom aide? Hourly Rate?
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.


Why?
Anonymous
Post 10/06/2025 22:08     Subject: Where to find a private pre-k classroom aide? Hourly Rate?
What kind of AAC supports does she have in place?
Anonymous
Post 10/06/2025 22:06     Subject: Re:Where to find a private pre-k classroom aide? Hourly Rate?
Two possibilities. 1. The school is completely overreacting and wants only perfect children. Those schools are out there and very toxic. You would need to figure out a different option long-term because it will damage your child to be somewhere they’re barely tolerated. 2. Your child has needs beyond what you’ve seen. Sometimes a child’s performance and behavior is starkly different outside of the home. I wouldn’t rely on an SLP or OT to make a full evaluation. You need a full neuropsych.

To answer your question about an aide, you probably want a former TA, special ed para, preschool teacher, etc. You might have luck calling nanny agencies. Also, plenty of kind but burnt out RBTs who might welcome a change in scenery.
Anonymous
Post 10/06/2025 22:03     Subject: Where to find a private pre-k classroom aide? Hourly Rate?
Anonymous wrote:I’m a pre-k teacher in a private school. You may not want to hear it, but your child is doing some other behavior-related things that are diverting too much of the teacher’s 1:1 attention away from the group. There are either safety concerns, behavior concerns, a total lack of following any directions, running away, not socializing at all with the other kids or something else. This isn’t something they would suggest if the issue is minor. I’ve only seen it happen 3 times in 7 years. However, they must think the child could be successful with more support. They are trying to work with you rather than kicking your child out. Be cooperative with the school.

Have you visited a developmental pediatrician? Or do you just have the apraxia diagnosis from a speech therapist?




Pre-K teacher again. Ask the school if they have any aide suggestions. Sometimes they can bring in a sub or former teacher there that wants hours. A special ed grad student would also be a good choice.

$20-25/hr.
Anonymous
Post 10/06/2025 21:59     Subject: Where to find a private pre-k classroom aide? Hourly Rate?
I’m a pre-k teacher in a private school. You may not want to hear it, but your child is doing some other behavior-related things that are diverting too much of the teacher’s 1:1 attention away from the group. There are either safety concerns, behavior concerns, a total lack of following any directions, running away, not socializing at all with the other kids or something else. This isn’t something they would suggest if the issue is minor. I’ve only seen it happen 3 times in 7 years. However, they must think the child could be successful with more support. They are trying to work with you rather than kicking your child out. Be cooperative with the school.

Have you visited a developmental pediatrician? Or do you just have the apraxia diagnosis from a speech therapist?

Anonymous
Post 10/06/2025 21:57     Subject: Where to find a private pre-k classroom aide? Hourly Rate?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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?


Because her diagnosis isn’t relevant. She’s neurotypical except for expressive speech delay. It’s called apraxia and people can’t wrap their head around a smart kind funny child who doesn’t have expressive speech. Her school is concerned that she doest’t take her play to the next level. I’m not.


But what is the reason for the lack of next level play? Apraxia of speech does not cause that kind of problem in play skills. Does she have a diagnosis related to the play?


Many kids with apraxia of speech also have motor apraxia which leads to difficulties with play, and with any activity that involves planning. It’s not 100% but it’s not uncommon either. The fact that she qualified for OT indicates that her apraxia likely impacts more than just her mouth.
Anonymous
Post 10/06/2025 21:49     Subject: Re:Where to find a private pre-k classroom aide? Hourly Rate?
You might need to be paying taxes as well.
Anonymous
Post 10/06/2025 21:20     Subject: Where to find a private pre-k classroom aide? Hourly Rate?
I’d find a new preschool.
Anonymous
Post 10/06/2025 19:25     Subject: Where to find a private pre-k classroom aide? Hourly Rate?
I would offer $20-25 per hour depending on the person's experience and credentials. But it's not just about the hourly rate. Consider things in the contract like what's your plan for sick leave. Does the person still get paid if your daughter doesn't go to school that day for whatever reason. Stuff like that makes a difference. I assume you need a background check as well.
Anonymous
Post 10/06/2025 19:02     Subject: Where to find a private pre-k classroom aide? Hourly Rate?
When a school is insisting that parents do something expensive, either the school is hoping the family will leave or the school is trying to wake the parents up to the significance of the issue. Or both.
Anonymous
Post 10/06/2025 18:40     Subject: Where to find a private pre-k classroom aide? Hourly Rate?
Anonymous wrote:
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


So she's neurotypical except in the ways that she isn't neurotypical?
Anonymous
Post 10/06/2025 18:40     Subject: Where to find a private pre-k classroom aide? Hourly Rate?
Anonymous wrote: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.


We have two speech therapists and an OT but the school is ADAMANT that she has an aide to be one on one.
Anonymous
Post 10/06/2025 18:40     Subject: Where to find a private pre-k classroom aide? Hourly Rate?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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?


Because her diagnosis isn’t relevant. She’s neurotypical except for expressive speech delay. It’s called apraxia and people can’t wrap their head around a smart kind funny child who doesn’t have expressive speech. Her school is concerned that she doest’t take her play to the next level. I’m not.


But what is the reason for the lack of next level play? Apraxia of speech does not cause that kind of problem in play skills. Does she have a diagnosis related to the play?
Anonymous
Post 10/06/2025 18:38     Subject: Where to find a private pre-k classroom aide? Hourly Rate?
Anonymous wrote:
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?


Because her diagnosis isn’t relevant. She’s neurotypical except for expressive speech delay. It’s called apraxia and people can’t wrap their head around a smart kind funny child who doesn’t have expressive speech. Her school is concerned that she doest’t take her play to the next level. I’m not.