language obstacle or character?

Australia
March 6, 2008 9:53pm CST
My son is almost 4 years old. Recently we found he has some probmems at kinder, includes: Don't talk to others. Don't play with others. Don't tend to response other's question. We analysed and it may caused by some possible reasons: 1. Language. My family speaking Chinese so my son's English is limited. 2. Confident. We think about this because sometimes the teacher just asking him some simple questions and we also ask him like this at home in English. He can response at home but not at kinder. And if we are accompany with him he will be better. 3. Character. He is a shy boy. Sometimes other boy just say "stop" louder, and he will fell afraid. I don't know is it because the limitation of language. We just moved to Melbourne recently and still in the process of settlement, so we can't afford another child. We know to have another child is better for both of them but we can't do that. So what I can think of is as, 1. Try to find other children to play with him. It's not easy because we don't have many friends here. Also we can't just ask his classmates to play with us just because we need it, it's selfish. 2. Language training. There are some of the medical centres for this but we don't which kind of centres is good for him. Is there anything else we can do for him? Any advices and comments will be really helpful. Thank you very much.
1 person likes this
2 responses
@tinkerick (1257)
• United States
7 Mar 08
I have to go out so I'm making this very quick: Go to the local parks to let him play with other children. Watch lots of TV (educational cartoons or shows) Listen to lots of music The more he hears, the more he'll absorb the English language. I spoke nothing but Korean when I came the US at age 2 1/2. Learned English in 6 months. He is still very young. He can learn quickly too.
2 people like this
• Australia
7 Mar 08
Thanks very much that's very encouragable. I think sometimes he still don't know what is Chinese, what is English. However, now he is getting better because he had some successful experience, then is building the confident.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
7 Mar 08
i think he is just shy and that you are really doing allthe things you should do Speaking english to him at home will really help him I know. I was really shy as a child too. Also moving can be just as stressful to a child as it is to an adult so this may be some of the problem. I think if you talked to the parents of some of his classmates you might find a sympathetic ear and a friend who just might suggest that her child could play with yours. just an idea.
• Australia
7 Mar 08
yes the move really influence the child so much and I didn't reallize it before. Actrually, the parents of his classmates and the teachers helped us very much.