On our way...

So, as mentioned before, my little guy is in a group class. We completed our second week, and it seems to be going well, except, I am really unsure what is changing... if anything. So far, I see that Ricci is oh so smart. He talks A LOT. Full fantasies, stories, arguments, etc, so what we are dealing with here is in NO way related to his intelligence. However, at times, my delightful son simply refuses to respond to people, and is so "wound up" that he cannot focus long enough to convey this intelligence.

For example, first day at group: We enter, Ricci bee lines for the wooden toy fire department, and can I blame him, no way, I meant it is REALLY super cool! He plays, the teacher gives him the space to do so as it is his first time. She reminds him that this time it is okay, but later he will have to clean up and he will have to join in later. He ignores all of this. The other children are working on opposites, Ricci glances over and continues to do "his own thing." then the teacher starts a new activity where they thread shapes into a mobile. She asks the children to pick shapes, and Ricci joins in for this activity. He knows every shape. The other children do not. Ricci is nonchalant, and then uses his "teaser." He names all the shapes, their colors, then gets up to go play again. This is when the teacher must redirect. I also try to do so. I then make the decision to wait outside knowing full well some of this behavior is for me. Apparently I was right, he does great after I go to the parent room.

Another similar situation: I work with Ricci on name recognition, as he is in the Pre-k range now. So, I name his letters, and point to them. I use all different things, like name tracing, name painting, just using letter blocks, you get the idea. Brainwashing is in place! So I ask my son, "what does this say?" and he replies, "It says doggy!" Of course, I am frustrated. I end up letting it go, and then later the same day, we are looking at the letters, I get up and he points and names, "I-C-C-I" I look at him and say, oh you know your letters, he mockingly repeats the same thing, and then runs off.

So here I am wondering, just what does he know, And so we played a shape game, he new every shape, even an octagon. So in other words, he knows a great deal more than what I'm aware of, and every once in awhile he is willing to reveal a little more to me.

We have two more weeks until we start with the Occupational Therapist, and I hope more will come clear at this time, but for now, I just try to figure out where this little man is coming from, and how best to understand his world.