Special or regular? I’ve been plagued with this problem for quite sometime now. My daughter just resumed her therapy sessions after the Holy Week. My kid is turning four this June and her therapist informed me that she’s now ready for preschool. She needs to develop her social skills which she doesn’t get from her usual one-on-one therapy sessions. But I’m torn between regular preschool and preschool for special kids.
I asked the opinion of other mothers with kids on the spectrum but I was more confused than ever. Some moms think that I should enroll her in a regular school so she could copy or imitate the action and language of other kids versus putting her in a special school where they fear that my kid might not improve.
Others favor special schools. The teachers are used to handling special kids so they are more likely to handle situations wherein kids would throw tantrums or something. And they are equip with the necessary teaching skills. They also fear that my kid might be bullied and won’t be able to defend herself against other kids.
I also asked my kid’s Neuro-Developmental doctor and I was surprised with her answer. She favors regular school but the number of children should be kept to a minimum and 4-1 student to teacher ratio should be observed. She explained that my kid already gets the nitty-gritty and is ready to be exposed to the “real” world.
Any advice?
if your kid has special needs, then she needs to go to a special school unless she has been given the “go” signal by her dev ped or therapist to go to a regular school.
there is a school in bf las pinas for autistic children. i’m sure there are lots of other schools within metro mla.
i have a nephew who is autistic. he is 23 yrs, old and is non-functioning. he cannot talk or do things for himself.
it’s so sad because he was normal until age 2.
the adobo is, i assure you, great!
My 6 yr old is austic…high functioning. I chose to put him the specail needs preschool when he was 3 because that was the age he had to start. I could have put him the regualar preschool however after meeting with both schools and asking a ton of questions of both places and also observing the classrooms that my son would be in… I chose to send him the specail needs preschool. He spent 2 school years there.
That was the best choice I ever made for him.
I was told he would never have freinds. He would get lost there. The same stuff you have been told.
He thrived there at the school. He made his greatest gains at that school. After getting 2 yrs of home based therapy he made little gains if any. At the school he made gains within weeks.
Just because your daughter has specail needs does not mean she has to go that school. I chose the school because of the enviroment and the really friendly people and they had the answers to my many many questions where as the regular preschool could not answer one for me.
My son is now 6 and in first grade. He is doing things that everyone said he would never do. I believe that is from the learning foundation that he got from the school.
Good Luck and I am sure you will make the right choice for your daughter and you!!
your daughter is lucky is to have you.
by the way, thanks for the advice that you droppped at my site.
thanks.
do drop by again.
My sister put her daughter in a special needs school for 2-3 years and then changed her over to regular school this year. From what I understand, Paige is now excelling quite well.
hmmm…well it’s probably a tough choice. I don’t have kids so haven’t ever had to be in this position. But it seems to me that parents can’t protect their children forever. Life must be experienced at some point.
Of course special needs children are a special case.
But if they are treated “special” won’t they simply think they are different? I don’t know the answer but it seems logical. If they go to a “regular” school (if able) and expected to follow the same rules and interact isn’t that healthier?
I could be completely wrong and am by far no expert. It is obviously a tough thing to deal with. Good luck!
Hi desperate blogger,
So sorry to hear about your nephew. What could have happened to him? I’m still weighing the pros and cons regarding my daughter’s school.
Will try your adobo recipe this sunday
Hi momto4kidsny,
I wish the same would happen to my kid. Thank you for sharing this. At least, I heard it from someone who went thru the same problem I have now.
Many thanks
Hi happy,
I’ll surely visit your blog again. Just keep on blogging.
Hi monique,
thanks for the comment/advice. I’m really considering all and each options.
Glad to hear that Paige is doing well.
hi castocreations,
You’re right. We can’t protect them forever although I want to. It seems both have pros and cons. Sooner or later, I really have to let my kid go and let her experience the “real” world.
Thanks. And you visit my blog again.