Anxiety Disorders in Children Support Group
Childhood","This community is for parents and caregivers of children who exhibit signs of anxiety. Anxiety refers to a complex combination of negative emotions that includes fear, apprehension and worry, and is often accompanied by physical sensations such as palpitations, nausea, chest pain and/or shortness of breath."
My son's teacher has a very difficult time getting him to engage in a whole group setting. He is in 1st grade in a level 9/10 public elementary school. I observed for several hours and noticed that he looks distracted and is twiddling with his pencil while she teaches, and he never seems to be following what she's saying and raising his hand responsively like the other children. If they are working together on a worksheet as a class, he does seem to be paying enough attention that he will write an answer down if she writes it on the board, but he is not self-motivated enough or engaged enough to do so on his own before she gives the answer. A behavioral pediatrician determined that this is part of his general/social anxiety (so not ADD that we know of yet). He is very difficult to assess -- the teacher can't gauge whether or not he's getting it. But then he gets home and says 'isn't homework easy, mommy?!' and gets through it with little prompting. So the issue is not comprehension but rather getting him to 'perform' in a large group (by large, I mean 16 students, so not even truly large). Whole group activities are difficult for him -- music class is something that I hear he does not engage in beyond the very minimum, if that. But PE, art and computer are just fine for him (less performance out of his comfort zone). .....
Has anyone experienced this and have any suggestions for the teacher? Or I? We are working with a cognitive behavioral therapist but have only seen her twice so far (this is a new thing for us) so not sure what to do yet for school...504 plan? Any ideas?
Has anyone experienced this and have any suggestions for the teacher? Or I? We are working with a cognitive behavioral therapist but have only seen her twice so far (this is a new thing for us) so not sure what to do yet for school...504 plan? Any ideas?
bonnieboo11
Hello, I say yes to a504 plan,I wish I would have gotten my daughter one earlier.And even though ADD is not a diagnosis it seems like he might benefit from some tricks for ADD kids.Check out the website "Understood" you will get some good ideas for 504 plans.Also let me say my nephew was the same way,not interested, not engaged in class and he was tested for gifted and he was.He is now involved in class and is like a new kid. But when it comes to anxiety dont let it go,my daughter is now in 6th grade and something new pops up alot so I just keep revising her 504.Good luck
bebamboo
My son is now in 5th grade, but back when he was in 1st, I saw some similar stuff that you are seeing. When it was true group work, actually having to talk, listen, and collaborate with others, he didn't do so well. If it wasn't being done the way my son felt that it needed to be done, then there was a melt down. But, like you said, technology, art, ect, where it was with others, but for an individual outcome, he did fine. Now at 11yrs old, we are dealing with other anxieties, but control over a situation is still a big factor. If he doesn't feel like he can control the situation, even in play, he becomes very anxious, and then lashes out. We are also moving onto a 504 plan, and I am hopeful. I hope things are able to even out for him, and you. It is hard for us to see them struggle. Know that we are in it with you! :)
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