Quote Originally Posted by Busy ECE mommy View Post
I have a daycare child who will not be 2 until the Fall. Mom told me the other day that they will begin toilet training this summer. The child has delays across the board, which parents won't acknowledge.
This can be hard. For everybody. The dcb is still only 18mths and so the parents may not be able to see the kinds of delays you can see because you have much more experience with children. (This is a broad generalization because I don't know any of you.) It could also be difficult to see because he is their baby and they want to see the best in everything.

Do you use any type of checklist, or developmental chart with the kids? If you had one, would you? I have found when dealing with special needs, figuring out specifically what they are has to be the first step. You can't deal with what you don't know.

So if his motor skills are delayed, then how? What aspect? If you could put it in writing, over a period of, say, a couple of weeks, specifically what you are observing, it would be easier to put into words for the parents. Some kids don't walk till 20-24 months and have no other delays, ever. But if it is more than that, having a written record would be very helpful.

The course Observation Skills is a whole semester in ECE. Doing this kind of thing can be difficult in home daycare because we are usually alone and doing everything else too but it can be worth it if it helps support the child and family.

And, in defense of the parent, I have often said I wanted to do something, only to realize later on that it was more wishful thinking than reality talking.