Members area

Loading...

Register

Don't have a login?

Join us

Become a member

  • Connect with others through events, workshops, campaigns and our NEW online forum, Your Community
  • Discover information and insights in our resource hub and receive the latest updates via email
  • Access one-to-one support and tailored services which help reduce barriers for deaf children
Menu Open mobile desktop menu

Primrose's pre-school journey

Published Date: 24 Oct 2019

How time flies. On Tuesday 8 October, Primrose entered through the doors of her local pre-school for the first time. Already Primrose’s mum Nadine’s mind was running wild with fantastical opportunities of what can be achieved without an 18 month old scurrying, clambering, climbing or bulldozing through anything and everything.

Bit of backstory. Primrose is really clingy to mummy. Some separation anxiety issues, undoubtedly heightened by our mollycoddling (that’s another story.) So rather than being excited, we’re worried. Will she go in? Will she cry? Will she stay? What are we going to do when she refuses point blank to stay put?

Well suffice to say all those questions and apprehensions, were as ever, a complete waste of mental energy. Primrose waddled in, took the hand of an assistant she liked the look of and bossed her new found friend into giving a grand tour of the toy kitchen.

“Mummy move over you’re in the past, I’m an independent mature 18 month old.”

Nadine’s thinks, “Fair enough. Guys she’s yours I’m out of here, time to sleep… I mean tidy.”

Primrose made a beeline for the kiddie kitchen and pretty much commandeered it for the remainder of the day. When it was time to do a singalong and sign version of Old Macdonald - specifically done to make the experience more inclusive for Primrose as she is the only deaf baby there - Primrose wasn’t interested. She was probably thinking, “Well yeah, that’s fun and all guys. But I’ve got a hot pot on that’s developing a skin. Catch you in a bit.”

Overall Primrose is loving it. So is Mummy, I might add. Especially the after effects when Primrose is zonked out for about 3 hours post pre-school.

One thing that worries us is her lack of interest in integrating and playing with other children though. It makes us wonder, “Is it because she’s deaf?”

We’re more than aware she’s only 18 months old. So right now in the grand scheme of things it’s no biggy. If it does become an issue then we will do everything in our power as loving devoted parents to help nurture Primrose’s confidence in socialising. But we think it’s important to mention in case any of you are wondering the same thing or witnessing the same behaviours in your own children. We want you to know it’s not just your babies who feel more comfortable in the corner, absorbed by their own silent fantastical imaginations. Ours does too.

Joseph

Joseph and his partner Nadine are parents to Primrose (3) who is profoundly deaf and wears hearing aids but is waiting for cochlear implantation. You can follow Primrose's journey on Facebook: www.facebook.com/playtimeprimrose and Instagram @playtimeprimrose.