Headstart Problems

Since Headstart is not really school, and they are not even allowed to teach anything other than how to get along with each other, I would just keep him home. He can start kindergarten and see if he does better then.

Find a new school. You're not going to walking in one morning and find that they are sweet and willing to work with your child. They aren't watching your son nor, from the sounds of it, are they willing to help him. Find a new school and quick!

Hi E.,

I am a teacher of children with special needs. If you child has a hard time communicating his needs try using pictures. The school might have a program called boardmaker which is just pictures. The pictures can help him express his needs or wants. Maybe having a few pictures on a metal ring that he can carry and flip to the picture that meets his needs. Also maybe trying a new teacher. I am a huge fan of headstart programs. Also is the main teacher is older she might be stuck in her old ways. I would suggest that having a conference with the principal present. I hope this helps. If not please e-mail me and we can discuss it more. ____@____.com

You don't say exactly what age, but when I went to headstart as a child it was like kindergarten. If that's correct, it could well be that your son is just not ready for a more formal school environment. My younger son is an August birthday and had very similar issues, including ADHD like symptoms. We held him back a year and it made all the difference in the world.

I totally agree that he school is not handling the situation correctly all around, but I do think you should also consider whether it's the right environment for your son in the first place. If it's not, there's really nothing you can do to make it work. After my son spent 3 weeks being entirely miserable in a public 1st grade class and after we talked to teacher, principle, etc. we realized that removing him from that school was the only thing to do. He did fantastic in a smaller private school environment (7 kids in the class rather than the 28 in his public school class).

I don't know where you live. In Wichita Falls the have a elementry school that has a program for special needs children I have a friend who sent thier child to privite school who had a program and he wasn't doing very good she put him in the public school that helps and he is 4 yrs old and he's doing great he is writing his name and enjoys going to school again.. I would go find a nother school. because if he doesn't feel conforable he will not learn. And you will feel good not having to fight him in to going to school. Call your local school system. ask your doctor, ask other people in your town what place is good and what is your choices. drop in and check the school out. See if the kids are being screamed at or talked to how orginized the class room is. Treat it like a day care but you want the child to really learn and feel at home with the people who is teaching. Good luck !!!
L.

All children are hyper don't don't lable him and you don't need to drug him. You might want to find another school. We do have schools that specialize in this area.
If your child has not adjusted he probably want so move on.
A bad school experience will stay with him so cut it short.
The child is communicating with you letting you know things are not right. So listen Mom. Maybe the school is convient for you but, might not be what's best for him.
Contact Emmer at ____@____.com for information on special schools.

B Armstrong

Sounds like that place is no good for him. He's trying everything he can to tell you so. Listen to him. My daughter had that problem with montessori. I loved montessori. But she didn't feel loved. I made her stick it out until christmas and when it did not improve (even though I liked her teacher) I pulled her out and put her in a new school. SHE LOVES IT!! Life can be different! He can't tell you any other way that he can't take it there. His stress hormones aren't good for him. I know it is intimidating to look for new childcare and headstart is soooo good, but only if it works for your little guy.

Try something new. Even if it is hard to find something new, he needs you to do it for him. You'll both be happier for it!

Also I used to be an early childhood educator and parents sometimes asked me if they should up their kids' ADD drugs. I applaud you for not caving into drugging your child, I know that isn't easy. But my ONLY response to them was: I can't be qualified to reccommend medication as I am not a doctor.

Who the H(#*$ is this teacher who is telling you to drug your child? A friend of mine who is a neuroscientist said while it might work to control ADD, no one knows what else these drugs do to the brain. Scarey, huh? Any non medical professional who tells you to drug your child (even if she happened to be right) should not be allowed around children.

You're dealing with a lot. I wish you the best.

Sounds like you need to have a teacher conference. I know it's hard to do, but if you can just let the teacher talk first and longer, you may be able to pinpoint what is setting off your son at school. It would help her, too, to serve your son.

Unless, the teacher is also an MD, she should not be telling you to have your son take meds for ADHD.

If your child is over three, he may be eligible for your public school's PPCD program. It usually is a half day program. It may be an option, if the head start program does not work for your child. Go to your future elementary school to find out.

God bless, J.

Im not sure exactly what Head start is but I have a 4.5 year old with SEVERE ADHD and he sees a neurologist who says meds are not safe for children under 5-6 at the earliest and she gave him a mood stableizer for his temper tantrums (he has other issues as well like sensory integration disorder and aspergers) but you need to tell that teacher that it is not safe for young children to be on meds and it can cause SERIOUS side effects. They have to be monitored by a Dr closely at that age to be on meds because it can cause heart problems, liver/kidney, and it can make them worse behaviour wise. there is no magic pill for every child and a peditrician should NEVER give a child under 6 meds with out them being under the care of a neurologist because peditricians don't know enough about all the different meds and how they affect the brain at certian ages... they really need to be under a neurologists care because they specialize in the brain and how it functions on the meds... I go to a Neurologist at Childrens in Dallas if you want her name Email me. She specialized in children with ADHD, autism, sensory...

any way, you need to go to the program director and find out whats going on and what your options are. I would be leary about her if she is telling you to put him on meds then she might not be the right teacher for you child. you dont want him to hate school especially with ADHD he has enough obsticals to hurdle you dont want hating school to be one of them. Good luck, A. J

PLEASE, go and have a conferance with the teachers and the director! Let them know how you feel and don't be afraid to be honest. I completely understand what you are going through, My son had a very hard time adjusting and I finally went to the principle and the teacher and things have really improved.
The main thing is get involved and make your presence known, that is your baby and you and your child deserve to be treated in the most respectful manner. If you don't feel satisfied after that, then you might want to consider taking him out and placing him in a different class or a different facility all together. Also, this is your opportunity to make it better in the future for other parents and children that encounter this teacher. Be bold and confident, you are the parent and you have the ultimate say on how you want your child to be treated and how "you" want expect to be treated. Non profit or not, the school is still a business and they need to be respectful of the business you give them by allowing them to speak into your childs life, they are apart of your baby's foundation!
You have a voice, use it and feel good about it.
Blessings and best wishes
T

Set up a time to have a conference w/the teacher about your concerns. If you don't feel better after talking to the teacher, then make an appt. to speak w/the director. Don't let it go until you are happy with the outcome. You don't want him to start hating school already, by Kinder he will outright horrible for you!

E. - you said that your son has ADHD but not on meds. I'm a person who doesn't run to medication first either, however, are you doing something else that is helping him cope? Has your methods worked? I understand that teachers can be a bit frustrating, but it is difficult for a teacher to try and handle a special need child with all the other ones she/he has to take care of. I'm not sure of the situation but I would certainly try and conference with his teacher so that BOTH of you understand each others expectations, needs and solutions.
Working as a team is the best to get your son what he needs.

If this doesn't help, then you do need to find a school that has less children in the classroom or maybe a caretaker that only has a couple of kids at her home. Either way, there is a solution... always be open to change.

I am an education major and I am so sad to see a child so young not wanting to go to school. I know that most Headstart programs have several classrooms, check with the director and see if there is another classroom he can be moved into. Make sure to voice your concerns to the director letting them no that you believe this behavior from the teacher is unacceptable. If nothing is done there go over the directors head and find out who you need to talk to next. These children are so young and your sons mind is still being molded at this young age for him to already hate school is only going to cause sever problems in the future.

I do have to say I am very proud of you for standing up for what you believe in on not over medicating you son. I really believe that keeping a child who is ADHD active and always busy is better then medicating. With him being so young he can over come the obstacles of ADHD without medication. It is so sad to hear a teacher say that your son needs medication. They are an educator not a doctor and I personally think that she needs to mind her own business and learn how to take care of her class. This person sounds like she is not a good teacher and needs to seek other employment that is not around our kids that are our future.

E.,

I hate it when schools try to act like the parents of the kids, and try to force medication.

Your son might be having some trouble because there is frustration all the way around.

I USED to sell Herbalife, and the only product I really ever believed in was the NRG Tea. It is amazing how it works. If you are tired, and need a boost - the tea will safely do that. If you have ADHD, and need to come down a few levels - the tea will do that. It WILL NOT make your son like the prescription meds would make him! It will simply even him out.

A lady that worked with me in Herbalife was giving her daughter the NRG tea (in pill form) for ADHD, then the school said that she couldn't give it to her any longer, because it was not prescribed from the doctor. Sure - they encourage you to pump your kid full of synthetic medicines that dull them down to no personality; but when something actually is helping them that is NOT prescribed - they don't allow it.

UGH.

Anyway... she stared buying the powdered version of the NRG Tea, and put it in her daughter's Jello with lunch. Problem solved.

I have seriously considered joining Herbalife again - just to market this tea to moms who are being bullied by the schools. I am not though - so go to herbalife.com and search for NRG Tea. You might have to find a local distributor, but that is really easy too! (If you don't want to do it on their website, just look in your phonebook - they are in there!)

Good luck, and I hope your little boy finds some peace and fun at school.