New dcf. They started in mid-June. Upon my recommendation the parent had the child evaluated. They didn't go the EI route due to the waiting list but went with a private developmental specialist that I referred them to. They had a complete medical/developmental eval done.
Gross motor concerns- Dcg is 19m, just started walking within days after turning 18m. Her walking has not improved at all. She has very low muscle tone in her legs. They even look underdeveloped, mostly they are limp. When I change her, she doesn't lift her legs up like most toddlers can do. When I hold them, there is literally no resistance, it's like changing a newborn. (If I am explaining it correctly and you can understand what I mean.)
Fine motor skills/texture issues- she can't use any silverware, If you place it in her hand she drops it/can't grip it. She has a hard time holding a full sippy cup even with two hands. She can't use a straw cup/can't suck from a straw. Still prefers purees over actual food. She does manage to feed herself (although it is more like a 9-12mo) her pincer grasp isn't great, she misses/drops small foods like cheerios. Still rakes to pick up mostly.
The eval scored her motor skills in the 2-5% range.
EI waiting list for services is 6 months. The parents have made calls to insurance, pediatrician and private physical and occupational therapists to try to get her SOME services in the meantime.
Any advice here on what I can do on my end (and what the parents can do at home?) We are constantly outside and get a lot of gross motor activity, but dcg is content to 'sit and watch' she manages to pull up into a child size chair and plops there, or she will sit and run her hands through the grass.
Also- zero speech, although her comprehension seems ok. Still drools.
I don't have concerns about autism. She makes great eye contact, she mimics/pretends in play, attempts to socialize, is affectionate to me and peers, understands basic directions (eg. time for outside, she will start clapping, scooting towards the door).
On a side/related note- this is another child I have from a local montessori school. The mother noted to the teacher almost MONTHLY since dcg was an infant (she forwarded me their emails) about her concerns, and the teacher completely blew her off, even going so far as to call her a 'worry wart' and saying how 'it's normal for first time parents to be concerned about their child's development'. She even aged her up to the toddler room, although dcg has NONE of the listed skills needed to be in that room other than down to one nap. In addition, based on conversations and observations this mother made and the observations other parents from her program have made, I am guessing she has contributed to this delay. Regardless of time parents arrived, the kids were seated in a kidney shaped infant table (in both infant and toddler rooms) and strapped in. The kids were 'engaged' with an adult, but were being showed flash cards, read to, doing small table 'centers'. There were never toys out and there was little movement of the children around the room.
I also have two older preschool children from her program. Both children (and parents) related to me that the children were doing 'centers' these centers required no free movement within their classroom, instead the children were put on carpets and the items were moved from child to child by an adult. Both preschoolers upon starting with me were nervous to take out toys, leave one area to go to the next, ask to go to the bathroom, and they couldn't believe we had outside time and art.
I am strongly suggesting that the parent take this up with licensing. I know that both of my preschoolers parents have made calls complaining about this- it is in direct violation of our regulations to strap in children and require them to remain on a carpet/mat all day, etc.
One of the clients I got from her was KICKED OUT of her program for coming unannounced to pick up dck.
She is licensed for 16, and the parents also noted that there were always more children than allowed eg. 4-5 infants to one teacher in the 'infant' room, 6 toddlers to one teacher in the toddler room, and 6 preschoolers-kindergarteners in the classroom (she also teaches kindergarten at her program and keeps children until 1st grade- these CANNOT count as school age because they are not enrolled in school.)