i feel bad for her, she is almost 5.?

Question

this little girl i baby sit and go swimming with is almost 5 and only knows how to count to 10 with help from people around her. she cant write her name or read and doesnt know the alpabet yet. she has alot of potty accidents and was previously potty trained too. I was reading chapter books when i was 2 1/2. i dont mean to sound harsh, but i dont think she is developing properly. her mother is 23, and doesnt read to her at all. and she doesnt interact with other kids. i am almost her second mother. any tips!!!?????

Answer 1

First of all, all children develop differently, so she could actually be ok. If you are concerned, talk to her mother. Otherwise, take it upon yourself to start reading to the little girl. Color with her and start doing some of the activities that will help her development while you are baby sitting. Try to avoid using pointless, uneducational toys, because there is no great benefit. Educational toys dont just teach something, but they are very fun too! LeapFrog has a line of products that are relatively inexpensive. Books are always great. Go to your local public library with the girl and let her pick out books in the children's department. There is no cost and she can choose what she wants to read. She will have more interest. This is also a place where she will be able to interact with other children. Good luck, and have fun.

Answer 2

It sounds like the child may be a little delayed because she is not being stimulated in her home environment. A Headstart program is designed for children such as her. It is not developementally appropriate to expect a 5 year old to read, although some children can read very young, it is because they were read to often. The mom may not necessarily be neglectful; she is young and just may not know how to stimulate her child, or she may be a single parent and be overwhelmed by the daily real world pressures of being a mom, an employee, paying bills, keeping the car running, etc. Also, I have to say I'm a little alarmed at the people suggesting the child may be autistic. I don't see any signs in the question above that might be signs of autism. The best thing to do would be to get the child in some kind of preschool or headstart program. Then the teachers can observe whether or not she is catching on- if she does, her delays were probably from a lack of stimulation in her environment. If she does not make adequate progress within a reasonable amount of time, the teacher should recommend the child be evaluated by an agency that screens children for developmental delays. If she is delayed then she can get therapeutic services to address those delays.

Answer 3

Okay, My cousin's kid is 4 and is still not potty-trained, has a 1 year old brother who speaks better than him, and can't read. His mom is a stay at home mother, but she barely works with him, and his father is very busy with his work. My advice? try your best to teach her yourself. If the mother isn't getting involved you should do your best to ensure that this girl has a bright future. You'll feel good about yourself, too. However, the mother may not want your help, so be prepared. I could hold a long conversation by the time I was 2 and could read around the same time (no it isn't unlikely to be reading small chapter books by 2 1/2), so I understand your concern. Help her out, and make observations of her living environment.

Answer 4

Realistically I doubt that you could read chapter books at two and a half but whatever. I think she's ok. Is she going to school? She should be going to school at this age and interacting with her teachers and other kids her age. You are obviously not doing a very good job as a babysitter if you have to ask this question on the computer and complaining about it. Why don't you talk to her mom? And don't report her to the Child Welfare Services, that's not gonna do a thing! she's doing her job as a mom just fine is what I think. It's just that you need to mind your own business....unless there's some type of physical or whatever abuse, then report that, but other than this, it looks like she's raising her just fine! I'm sure you don't remember it, but you've probably had accidents at five too!

Answer 5

Get some sidewalk chalk and try teaching her to write her name. Let her spend the night with you and read to her, as dumb as it may seem just reading to a child a few times can help out a lot. I am aslo a young mother, but my two oldest daughters could read and write by the time they were 2. My oungest is only one so she is just now talking. maybe you should talk to this mother and explain to her how far behind her child is and how hard it is going to be with her in school. Also you may want to think of the fact that the child may have a learning disability. If you are able maybe spend some time with this child and see if that helps with her learning. If all else fails maybe once the child is in school they can figure out if something is wrong. Also I wanted to add, that the potty accidents could be from her being potty trained to early. Just hang in there and try and help this child, sounds to me like someone needs to.

Answer 6

I don't understand why her MOTHER never reads to her??? Is she on drugs??? It sounds like a neglected child... Be very nice with her it's not her fault... Talk to a social worker, she'll let you know what options you have. This is major neglect. My 3 year old knows how to spell her name, and my 16 month old knows to sound off the 5 vowels!!! That is neglect, in my book. she should be learning how to read and write, and should at least know how to count to 20!
Whatever you do for her, you will help her in the process. If mother is at fault, well she needs to get her act together... Talk to the mother about reading to her. How well do you know her?
Gosh I feel for this kid...

Does she have some disability, or birth defects?

Send her over to me I'll train her in no time!
I've been reading to my kids since I got pregnant with them!

In the mean time, take an extra 10 minutes to read to her, yourself. She'll thank you later. There's loads of books at the library, check a few out, adn when you have her use every second for that purpose... You may be helping her a lot.

Answer 7

I hardly think you were reading chapter books at 2 1/2, if you were, you'd be some computer genius. Instead, you are her baby sitter. However, you are her guardian when she is in your care. Talk to her mother and suggest reading and also, if she is 5 and having potty accidents, she might be having some trouble at home. I would get child protection services involved so a doctor could check her out. Good luck, I'm glad you want to do something for her.

Answer 8

WOW i cannot belive how many people are suggesting dss because you have not personally seen the mother pick up a story book unless she has told you she does'nt or the child has said so you should'nt assume she doesn't my middle child was read too every night and was taught to use the potty and could'nt read ,write, and had accidents and guess what i found out he was border line mentally retarded i suggest you suggest maybe preschooling her to the mother and ask her pediatrician to have her tested and my son did not like to play with other children either he prefered grown ups it was a sure bet to him it was'nt an un known you really need to talk to the mother and not make so many assumtions and every child is different stop comparing her to you or others

Answer 9

Kids need love and attention to foster their development and education. Spend lots of time reading to her. Look up preschool teacher resources on the web to get some activity ideas for when you're together. Make it fun and ALWAYS be proud of her, no matter how poorly she starts off. Encourage her and be positive.

If she was previously potty trained and is now having accidents, this is one sign of abuse. Look for others. This could also be part of the problem.

You need to be the one positive, constant influence in her life. Try not to start crap with the mom and get yourself fired. Just be there for her, since you're all she's really got. Love her honestly and without performance expectations and she will flourish. If she IS being abused, the stability of you will help her cope until something can be done to stop it.

Answer 10

I don't know if she's been to preschool or not, but when she starts kindergarten, it will be a whole new world for her. Maybe then her mother will take some interest in this poor little girl. I hope so, but she may not. On the other hand, she may just love it so much she'll jump right in and learn. I feel sorry for her, I'm glad you're so concerned and are there for her. Please try to remain that way. She'll need as many adults in her life to look out for her as she can get. It truly does take a village. Best wishes.