To your point, Irene...I stated in the meeting that although I want him to have kid friends, I am convinced that he doesn't have attachment difficulties. he's a really affectionate, empathetic, engaged kid...just with adults and not other kids his age at this point. I really think that if the 8 year olds were willing to have a 4 year old hanging out with them, he'd have a posse of friends. But they just aren't.
Kickball, I am more than willing to work as hard as necessary with his pre-school/day care because of that reason. They acknowledge that they haven;t had a kid like him come through, recognize that they have no experience engaging kids like him and are looking for assistance...thus the mental health services people. I think it's great that they want to learn and are willing to pony up to the table.
Kriston, you're right. he's much more comfortable engaging with adults, at school his teachers (who may technically be adults, but are in their early 20's and feel like kids to me!). And that was sort of my closing argument at the meeting yesterday. I noted that his tantrums and meltdowns appear age appropriate, he self-calms, and while he isn't interested in playing with peers, he has no trouble attaching to parents, teachers, adults and older children.
Coincidentally, his 4 year "well child" annual checkup was yesterday afternoon. His ped suggested that we see Dr. Amend now, rather than wait. so I think that's the way we'll go.
