My language-delayed kid did something important yesterday.

@TheHorse (205727)

Walnut Creek, California

June 29, 2022 9:39am CST

Nicole is a new "best friend" in the toddler room at my friend's preschool. She is 30-months old. One of our "things" together is fixing torn pages in books. I get the Scotch tape, and she helps me press down the tape as we fix the pages. Yesterday, my my language-delayed friend, Jackie, found some torn pages from a book that had been "trashed" by the younger toddlers. She picked up those pages and took them to Nicole, trying to say "here." This means that she fully understood what Nicole and I had been doing, and "inferred Nicole's mental state," understanding that Nicole would be pleased to receive pages that we could fix. This is, to me, true empathy. Remember that some people were saying that Jackie might be "autistic." This kind of empathy does not usually exist in autistic children. I'm heading off to work there right now. We'll see what new gains Jackie shows today.

11 people like this

11 responses

@FourWalls (62128)

• United States

29 Jun 22

So many people don’t take time to understand. You think about the average doctor who has his/her nurse take the info, comes in so he/she can say they “saw” you, then leaves before you can say “hello.” THEN they think they know what’s wrong with you! You’re a good man, Charlie Brown Pony.

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@FourWalls (62128)

• United States

29 Jun 22

@TheHorse — I hope one of those words didn’t start with an “F”….

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@TheHorse (205727)

• Walnut Creek, California

30 Jun 22

@FourWalls Heh. I have not heard an naughty words from her.

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@TheHorse (205727)

• Walnut Creek, California

29 Jun 22

The little girl said "come on" today while dragging my hand toward a wagon. She also said "uh huh" when I asked her a question, and used about three other words I had not heard before.

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@LindaOHio (156159)

• United States

30 Jun 22

I would hate to see you leave the school. These children might not be making the progress that they are making now with someone else.

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@vandana7 (98826)

• India

30 Jun 22

I agree. I wonder if the folks of the kids realize how lucky they are to have somebody like Pony around.

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@TheHorse (205727)

• Walnut Creek, California

30 Jun 22

I have no plans to leave the school, unless I "retire" to Montana, Iowa or Santa Barbara.

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@LindaOHio (156159)

• United States

30 Jun 22

@vandana7 They probably don't even realize it.

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@BarBaraPrz (45487)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

29 Jun 22

Very good!

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@TheHorse (205727)

• Walnut Creek, California

29 Jun 22

I think she's on a roll right now. Something in her Broca's Area (the speech production part of her brain) is kicking in.

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@LadyDuck (458091)

• Switzerland

30 Jun 22

This is interesting. Your little friend is improving, she does not talk but she arrives to communicate.

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@TheHorse (205727)

• Walnut Creek, California

30 Jun 22

We teachers still have to wear masks. But I lower mine sometimes when I talk to her. I want her to see my mouth when I talk.

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@LadyDuck (458091)

• Switzerland

30 Jun 22

@TheHorse I am sure that looking at the lips helps her to understand better. Teachers also have to wear masks here.

@wolfgirl569 (95165)

• Marion, Ohio

30 Jun 22

She is improving every day

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@TheHorse (205727)

• Walnut Creek, California

30 Jun 22

She is. That's important to me.

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@JudyEv (325759)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Jun 22

That's very interesting and encouraging that Jackie is showing this kind of behaviour.

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@TheHorse (205727)

• Walnut Creek, California

29 Jun 22

We had another good day today.

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@celticeagle (159008)

• Boise, Idaho

29 Jun 22

How great!

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@vandana7 (98826)

• India

30 Jun 22

Did I ever say I admire you? Don't gloat though. Learn to be humble.

1 person likes this

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@vandana7 (98826)

• India

30 Jun 22

@TheHorse Don't forget you learned how to do your laundry from me...

@TheHorse (205727)

• Walnut Creek, California

30 Jun 22

It's hard to be humble when you're....wait...yes, I like being humble.

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@marlina (154166)

• Canada

29 Jun 22

We will see!

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@TheHorse (205727)

• Walnut Creek, California

29 Jun 22

I really look forward to seeing this child every day!

@RasmaSandra (73407)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

30 Jun 22

That is wonderful she knew how to interact and what Nicole would like, I hope you had a good day,

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@TheHorse (205727)

• Walnut Creek, California

30 Jun 22

It was a good day. I had fun with my music students as well.

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Nocturnal Writer

@Nakitakona (56302)

• Philippines

13 Jul 22

That's a good experience you have with special student you have. It's inexplicable feeling to achieve something worthwhile for them.