Odd Behaviour

[Guest]

Hi all

Since returning to school 4 weeks ago I have noticed odd behaviour from one of my new Reception boys. He seems to have difficulty socializing with other children prefering to cling to adults (especially me!) He is a very happy and somewhat over affectionate boy. He tends to touch others, again especially me quite alot often touching me when the children are on the carpet. he squeezes my hand and kisses my hand quite alot. I have explained to him that this is not approprite and discouraged him from doing this. He has now started squeezing other children's hands often far too tightly. He is growing a pumpkin in his garden and talks about it constantly!

I did think he may be on the aspergers spectrum but am unsure. My senco is snowed under at the moment but would love advice or comments from you guys. Has anyone ever had a similar problem?

[Andreamay]

He does indeed seem to be on the spectrum.Has he no records,paperwork from nursery or pre-school?

im sorry i dont know the procedure in a school but i think advice needs to be sought obviously before any steps are taken.But meanwhile i would continue to obs and record.Im sure you will get better advice from someone on here with more experience in schools.good luck

[Rea]

Might not be a SENCO issue though.

 

A girl who has just left nursery for school was challenging in some ways, but very affectionate, kissing, hugging, saying 'I love you' loads of times a day.

Her parents were seperated, social services had removed her from mom and she was living with nan, with only supervised visits to dad.

She needed lots of assurance and reassurance and tested staff with her behaviour.

 

But your little boy could also be a bit overwhelmed at being in school. Even if he's been to a pre-school setting he will still find school big with bigger children and new routines and adults.

 

He could also be from a very tactile, affectionate family and its a normal way for him to behave.

 

I think you need to speak to mom

[Guest]

I think you should continue to observe him - you obviously have a much clearer picture of him but from what you say at this time in his life when he has just started at school then perhaps he does just need reassurance and he may just want to share with you his news about his pumpkin as this is within his comfort zone of verbalising. You obviously have a gut feeling about all this but he has only been at school 4 weeks which isnt a great deal of time for him. Maybe he will grow out of this or maybe he just doesnt know how to socialise with others yet. I agree and think chatting to his mum about what he is doing and finding out what his interests are at home - other than his pumpkin, might be a good way of finding out a bit more about him - as someone else said do you get the records from nursery if he attended one, if so they might give you an idea of what he was like there. I think all you can do is keep a close eye on him, make sound observations on his behaviour and see where it goes. I am sure that it will unravel one way or another.

Nikki

[Guest]

I have asked mum for his nursery report. She has told me that they were concerned at the nursery about his lack of social skills. It will be interesting to read it when I get it. I will keep notes and then take it from there as you say it's early days.

[Verona]

We have a little girl who prefers adult company to that of children. She has finally started to chat to other members of staff (it was only me for a long time). Whenever a child talks to her she turns her head or walks away. She only has adult company at home and has a loving family (again all adults). She was 3 in August. Her vocab is very good. She knows all colours, recognises numbers, can write her name and numbers up to 5, etc. etc. She chats willingly, has eye contact with adults and seems very happy at Pre-school. She doesn't go into the role play area and stares at me as though I'm mad when I read using different voices or when pretending to be a character from a story (sometimes the staff think I'm mad so that's nothing new !!!) She joins in with dancing and physical activities but again with an adult by her side. We give her lots of praise when she does join in. But she needs help with developing her social skills. We are trying to introduce her into a small group (perhaps just one other child) but she is still very reluctant. Any other ideas please?

 

Sue J

[Rea]

I think so long as you look for opportunities where the child can share an activity or a piece of news or a game, then the rest will follow. Can you give her jobs to do that she might need help with, could she be the 'teacher' and show others how to write numerals while they are playing, board games with one or two other children and an adult. Have you got a child who can take the lead and ask her to play ??

We have a little boy with similar social skills and some days I actually tread on him because hes so close to me, but last week I saw him talking to 2 children.

[Verona]

Rea - Thanks - Actually yesterday and today she has started playing alongside other children. She went to visit a ballet school yesterday afternoon, as her mum wants her to mix with more children and thought this might also help. In circle time today I asked her about the visit and she said, she only watched this time but next week she will join in and she has to take a doll with her and a wand. She also spoke to another child during snack time and she is not too shy about showing children how she can hop and how she can write numbers. The staff have agreed that we can see an improvement and we will continue to encourage her to join in with board games, etc in small groups.

Thanks

Sue J

[Rea]

Thats good Sue, bu tbe prepared for a few set backs! Last week little chap was talking to others, today I trod on him again

They all get there in the end or in my dad's words 'they all grow up normal'

[Guest Wolfie]

Rea, that post made me laugh put loud...."today, I trod on him again"! I know it's not funny but it was just the way you said it!

[Rea]

Glad you laughed, I might one day admit to the other 'not best practise' things I've done this week