My son is 3 1/2 years old and they did a test at preschool like draw a line or a circle and stack blocks?

Question

he didnt want to do it he's done it before in there and the teacher saw him do it before but at the moment he didnt want to do it my wife even went to the school and he just did not want to do it when he got home i asked him to do it and he did it .now the teacher suggested we take him to get evaluated just because he didnt want to do it .i told them he did those activities since he was 2 .i told them at home he gets on the cpu and does everything he goes to the picture folder and edits them he learned from seeing me do it one time he copys pic from websites clicks on them send them to pic. folder then goes and edits them.he also learns everyword to the movies he likes he knows how to get everywhere in the car he knows where to turn to get to the place we are going.sometimes he reads words out the blue like books or cpu.when he was born at like a month he was lifting himself up with his arms turning around holding his bottle.anybody think he has a problem should we get him evaluated

Answer 1

Evaluated for what?  I guess that is my first question.  

Usually there is more that one reason why a teacher recommends a child to be evaluated for whatever reason.  If it's only because he did not draw a circle and stack 7 blocks ...well that's not enough reason.  Find out exactly why she feels he would benefit from it.  

3.5 year olds tend to get their mind stuck on something...and that something could be...not doing a task the teacher and the parents are pressuring them to do.  Something that seems interesting to me is that you commented that the teacher has seen him accomplish this task before.  That should be accepted.  Many young children do not excel in 1:1 test-like environments.  

Please talk with the teacher and find out her exact reasons for referring him.  It all boils down to your decision as a parent.  The flip side...is go ahead and have him evaluated... if there isn't a problem...then there isn't a problem :-)  Good luck!

Answer 2

If you feel he should be evaluated then you should. My oldest had the same problem and he is super intelligent and loves to talk talk talk but when it came to sitting down with one other adult to be tested he wouldn't want to do anything and I already knew he knew how to do them so I wasn't worried. He's 6 now and perfectly fine. Some kids get a little shy when tested or they don't want to sit there and be tested. I wouldn't worry too much if you know he can do those things and if he does them at home.

Answer 3

Are you absolutely sure that the only concerns the teacher has is that he wouldn't stack the blocks and draw a circle. I have taught pre-k for seven years and couldn't imagine recommending a child be evaluated because of that. Make sure the teacher doesn't have any other concerns. If she has other concerns it would be good to get him evaluated. A child can be smart and still have developmental delays. For example I know a child who can identify all his letters and numbers and does really well when you work with him one on one, but cannot function in a classroom. He has poor social skills (although they are great at home) and has difficulty following directions. He is considered severely developmentally delayed. If your child's teacher has valid concerns I would urge you to go ahead with the evaluation. Early intervention can make a huge difference in a child's life. It gives him the opportunity to get help before he falls behind. Without early intervention the child go end up struggling the rest of his academic career. Again, talk to the teacher see exactly why not drawing a circle and stacking blocks would warrant an evaluation in her mind. They may be more things that she has seen in the classroom that concern her. Good luck, I know it's difficult to hear that your child may have a problem but getting him help now (assuming he actually needs it) is the best thing you can do for him.  And keep in mind the teacher is doing the best she can. If she has concerns about a child she needs to have the evaluation done so the experts can determine if there is actually a problem. A general classroom teacher is taught to identify concerns then get the child tested. Just because she has concerns does not mean that something is actually wrong. Don't freak out until you talk to the evaluators.

edit - How does your child do socially? Also, does he have any repetitive behaviors? You mentioned that he memorizes movie lines. Does he repeat them at odd times? I have a child in my pre-k class who is brilliant and is able to do things beyond what is normal for his age. He struggles socially and repeats movies and TV shows he watches. He hasn't been officially diagnosed, but he has been evaluated and receives special services. Everyone is pretty sure he has Asperger's syndrome.

Answer 4

Evaluate for what? As a gifted child, yeah, sure, why not? But don't be fooled when they give you negative answers about how your child is not doing what he is suppose to be doing when being told to take that test. Just like adults, they have bad days too and good days.. your son may have his moments too like everyone else..

My son when he was in preschool, his teachers said he had ADHD.. that I should take him to get an eval., to take him to sylvan so they can help him there.. and etc. I only took him to his doctor and doctor said he doesn't have it. He's in 1st grade now, and I've asked his kinder teacher and the principal in his school and both said no. I've asked people around too and not one said he has it. There's no symptoms of ADHD at all in him. So, I suggest, don't be fooled. Some teachers want to pass the problem to somebody so they can get away with it (if there is a problem..) and be credited bec. they were the one who suggested the help.. Yeah right! Kids will be kids... Come on...

Answer 5

Children are extremely sensitive to their environments, as are adults who are being "tested". I believe it's totally inappropriate to subject children to formal type testing, a skilled practitioner should obtain developmental information using a non intrusive or childcentred based methodology. 2.6mnths children have surprising good social cognition. Maybe the experience of not being the smartest or negative reaction to a behavior is influencing how he interacts with the staff member. I'd focus on his emotional and social development rather then he's ability to preform to order. An area of development which is hugely important for the first 4 years and plays a major role in emerging and life long intellectual capacities. Relax and enjoy your child for what he is, not what he should be. If any language delay or obvious clumsiness is present then you should seek advice.

Answer 6

sounds like the test was invalid.  I wouldn't worry about it.  If you have any concerns ask his doctor the next time you go.