Hello everyone,

Just wanted to ask some advice about my daughter, it's a bit of an odd question!
My daughter is 8 and has a condition called Floating Harbor Syndrome, which is quite rare, but means she is delayed in speech, growth and learning. Socialy she is not backward in coming forward, and despite her difficulties seems to have few problems making friends (although keeping them seems to be another issue...). She looks younger than she actually is (looks around 5 yrs old) but she will go up to complete strangers and start conversations with them. I'm worried than as she's getting older this habit could put her in dangerous situations, and she could be taken advantage of by older children or adults (in particular males). It's quite a delicate subject and I don't quite know how to put it.
I do keep an eye on her more than a girl of that age without the condition, but she is wanting more freedom, to play out with other children on the street and her older brother, and I'm running out of excuses! I'm not quite sure if there is anything I can or should do besides the usual stranger danger advice.
Is there anyone else got a similar problem?
Thank you,
Christina

Hi Christina

I know your worried but I think you are on the right track with the stranger danger talk, an you know what they say 'repetition, repetition' every time she goes out to play give her the talk. Another thing you could do is buy her a little watch and when she first starts going out give her a time to come back home to check in with you, eventually if all goes well you can start spacing the time out, hopefully she will learn that being safe and checking in earns her the reward of more freedom.

Independence is important to Children and learning to let them find their way is tough. My little boy constantly begs me to play on the green around the corner from our house at the moment he is only allowed to play in the see you later-de-sac, he is six and has serious mobility issues, it breaks my heart every time I have to say no.

Good luck.

Louise

Hi Louise,
Thank you for your reply, sorry it's taken so long for me to get back on here!
i have bought my daughter a watch, but telling the time is a major problem for even adults with her condition. She struggles with counting also and is about 2 yrs behind in her learning, she also has problems retaining information which is all again part of her condition. I will still try your suggestion tho, you never know! Sorry to hear about the problems with your little boy, it wouldn't be so bad if there was an older child with them, who could keep an eye on them
Christina

(08-16-2010 10:58 PM)cris01 Wrote:  Hi Louise,
Thank you for your reply, sorry it's taken so long for me to get back on here!
i have bought my daughter a watch, but telling the time is a major problem for even adults with her condition. She struggles with counting also and is about 2 yrs behind in her learning, she also has problems retaining information which is all again part of her condition. I will still try your suggestion tho, you never know! Sorry to hear about the problems with your little boy, it wouldn't be so bad if there was an older child with them, who could keep an eye on them
Christina

hi ya

not sure if this could be of any use but as far as im aware u can by the watches with a alarm system if she is unable to tell the time set the alarm for her and inform her that when the sound goes off she is to return home.

hope it helps
donna