Tom - Block Play

[brookeamy]

Scenario:
Tom (4 years) suffered a brain injury at birth. He has a developmental age of around 2 years, walks with an unusual gait and uses gestures and loud noises to communicate. Tom is not yet toilet trained and needs adult support with other self-help skills.
Tom loves to play with wheel toys and enjoys any types of sensory experience, particularly finger painting, wet sand and water play.
Tom is new to the service and the preschool. Children have been curious about him, asking Cara, the educator, a range of questions:
• Why does he walk funny?
• Why can’t he talk?
• Why does he make those noises?
Two children approach the educator and say “Can you take Tom away from the blocks ‘cause he doesn’t know how to build and he just knocks them down and we’re building a car park.”

Question:
1. How would you respond?
2. Why is it inappropriate to insist that Tom be included in the block play?

Answer:
1.Have the boys continue to recreate their carpark, have Tom come to the side and explain to him that its not nice to wreck other people’s creations, assist Tom to create a tower with blocks and knock down. If Tom continues to push down their carpark ask the boys to move somewhere else where they will not be interrupted (if he continues to knock down blocks).
Ensure the block area is in a larger area so groups can separate and have their own play area without being interrupted, blocks can also be halved.
2. I think it is inappropriate as children should not be forced to play with other children whether they have an additional need or not. Children have rights and they should respected, although the children should understand that he is only wanting to join in and play. To overcome this issue, Tom can be give his own blocks to play with

Feedback:
1. Tom has a brain injury and has a development age of 2 years- keeping this in mind, would explaining to him that it would not be nice to wreck people’s creations be effective?  In what other way could you mediate the issue- think about what you could say/ explain to the other children. Also, you have not got the full story on what actually happened- how would you find out? Is there an alternative which could allow all the children to play together- what you physically do to assist?
 
The mediation and alternative you have suggested (last sentence) for Tom and other children to play is fine.
2. It is great to see you thinking of Tom however, why else would this be inappropriate? How else might this make the other child feel if you forced them to play with Tom? Explain why- just address what the question asks.


Any help much appreciated!