Kindergarten?

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

We are slowly making our way through the evaluation process for my 4-year-old

son. I believe he is PDD-NOS or Asperger's. He has trouble with imaginary

play, can't fuction with peers, is physically awkward, yet " very intelligent "

(in quotes b/c that's what his teachers & drs. keep telling me).

Next school year we have the choices of:

1) sending him to a private pre-K program (5 days a week, 3 hours a day) at a

school where he is already an outcast.

2) sending him to all day K at the local public school.

3) homeschooling him while trying to get him therapy and taking him out for

highly supervised/controlled social interaction.

Any thoughts/advice on what we should do? My hubby is in favor of K b/c he

figures once our son is in the public school system, they will be forced to

address his developmental problems (as of now, the early intervention school

system keeps saying " our tests show that he is very bright. Your son doesn't

have to be class president) UGH!!!

I'm in favor of pre-K b/c I don't think my son can handle either all-day school

or a larger class size.

I'm considering homeschooling b/c he is smart, and I don't know how long I want

to hold him back to develop social skills that he may never develop.

Aside from the monotone voice, arm flapping, shirt chewing, no respect for

personal space, etc that set him apart as different, I'm really worried about

one thing: he doesn't understand when children are being mean to him. You all

have probably already been here, but the other day I saw my son get beat up on

the playground by a group of boys (he was knocked down, punched & kicked by 3,4

& 5 year-olds). This was while parents (including me) were supervising their

children. Everything happened so fast (mere seconds) before the parents could

break it up. The boys routinely tease/taunt my son, so seeing him physically

beat up was upsetting. But, what really shocked me ( & had me crying for 2 days)

was afterward when the parents sent their boys up to my son to apologize. My

son was so thrilled that these boys were talking to him that he said " Momma,

every one is talking to me, that means that they like me. " I sat him down and

explained how good friends/bad friends act & tried to get his input. It was

painfully clear that he couldn't comprehend the difference in actuality (like he

can tell me good/bad behavior, but can't apply it to a situation).

In summary, I don't mind that he is " different " from all of his classmates, he

is my son & he is who he is. But, I can't stomach the thought of sending him to

K like " a lamb to slaughter. " I do feel, however, that the school system will

be more help once he is in one of their classrooms. I don't know....any advice

would be very much appreciated. Thanks for being here.

[My son has already been diagnosed with Dyspraxia & we are supposed to return to

Children's Hospital for further testing in 6 months).

Sincerely,