Preschool Playgroup: “She needs extra support.”
So this blog post is a reminder……
A reminder to me.
My children are still children. That means they still need SUPPORT.
That support may come in 1 million different ways. (OK maybe just a dozen different ways).
Support may look like repetition 3 or 4 or 5 times. Support may look like visuals - showing them what I’m talking about, drawing a picture, writing a note, making a gesture, bringing them an object, etc.… Support is spending a little extra time with them - just talking to them about what they like and what’s interesting to them (even though I have no interest whatsoever).
Support is giving them a hug and validating their feelings so that they feel loved. Support may look like playing a tickle game or wrestling or jousting with pool noodle game in the living room for five minutes before we start homework.
Support is unique to your child.
You have to study your child and study yourself. That’s the hardest part …..analyzing yourself and realizing what you need and what you’re missing so that you can give your child what she needs or what he’s missing.
This whole concept of support is fundamental to what it means to be a speech, language, pathologist, and to work with young children. We spend our days looking for and figuring out how much support a child needs in order to function in their family, and in turn, go out into the world and function.
Look, the truth is this: we all need support.
WE ALL NEED SUPPORT.
Let me say that again. We. All. Need. Support!
We cannot get through this life without somebody, repeating something for us, reviewing something with us, showing us something, explaining it, putting it in our hands, giving us a pat on the back, helping us correct it, giving us an opportunity to practice it, And then showing us that we’ve done it correctly.
At some point in all of our lives, we need support in learning how to eat, using the bathroom, getting a job, getting through a class, l paying your taxes, playing with other kids in a playgroup, understanding chemistry class, learning a new program at work, filling out your timesheet to get paid, cleaning your gutters, signing up for Medicare, planning a funeral, and so on and so on.
Our children need the exact same thing. Your 2-year-old. Your 5-year-old. Your 18 month year-old. You’re a 9-year-old. And your 19-year-old.
Let’s think about this phrase we all say or feel: “ I want them to be independent“. Yes, there are things that you want your children to do by themselves and you want to FINALLY get a break. I get it. I know. I feel you. Having children requires so much energy and so much time. But even “independent“ children, need help, support, guidance, reminders, etc..
So now… whenever you hear that your child needs extra support, it’s OK to feel some kind of way about it. But then get some support yourself so that you can embrace it. Acknowledge it. Study it.
Remember that just because your child has a developmental delay, a unique way of processing the world, or specific way of learning - doesn’t mean that they are the only ones who need support. Remember we ALL need support.
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If you want your child to play with other children, to expand your knowledge about communication in young children, to connect with other parents of young children, or to learn more about community resources . . . .join the Parent and Preschooler Playgroup in Beltsville, Md.
