I need him to go to a nursery to help him improve his speech but I’m worried that he might be infected with COVID-19.
Is it safe for him to go to the nursery or it is better to give him in- house sessions to help him speak properly?
Answer
In this counseling answer:
Seek medical advice regarding his delay as there are many different causes for speech delay that may need medical intervention.
Going to nursery will help him develop social skills as well as giving him a new environment which will also help him with psychological and emotional skills too.
To assess the level of risk specific to your son, take a look at the incidence in your local area. And the precautions that are being taken by the nursery.
To help with his speech, you can get advice from other parents as well as speech therapists and books to guide you through exercises you can do with him
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatulahi wa barakatuh,
I understand that you are concerned about your son’s speech delay and feel attending nursery would give him the chance to catch up. However, at the same time you are concerned about the COVID-19 risk. This leaves you in a bit of a dilemma about what to do.
Seek medical advice
My first suggestion is that you seek medical advice regarding his delay as there are many different causes for speech delay that may need medical intervention.
For example, a cause of speech delay can be auditory issues. Either way, your doctor can refer you to have all the relevant testing for your son to see if there is an underlying cause that can be resolved in a necessary way.
It may even be that there is no reason for the delay at all and he will catch up in his own time. Keep in mind the speed of development varies from child to child and a delay does not always indicate a problem.
This will also help you to decide if sending him to nursery genuinely would be a good approach to take to help boost is language skills. He may also be offered speech therapy. Here you would get professional help from someone experienced in dealing with cases like your sons.
Developing child’s social skills
Aside from sending him to the nursery to help him with his speech, there are other benefits to this.
In a nursery, your son will be amongst other children his age and it will help him to develop social skills as well as giving him a new environment which will also help him with psychological and emotional skills too. However, given the current COVID-19 situation, this also comes at potentially added risk.
To assess the level of risk specific to your son, take a look at the incidence in your local area. And the precautions that are being taken by the nursery.
Check out this counseling video:
Talk to other parents too to find out about their experiences of sending their child to nursery. And what they would advise too. This will help you to make an informed decision about how safe it is to send your son to the nursery.
Speech delay
If you feel that the risks outweigh the benefits, then there are other options. Or ways you can support your son with his speech. As well as having social interactions in a smaller and more controlled environment.
To help with his speech, you can get advice from other parents as well as speech therapists. And books to guide you through exercises you can do with him to support his speech.
With social interactions reduced at this time, it is possible to get this support from online sources.
Conclusion
Otherwise, you can support your son in social activities by arranging small get-togethers with other parents who have children of the same age and allow them to play together within the confines and rules of the country in which you reside.
This way he will get to have at least some level of social interactions. These interactions will be beneficial for his language development as well as social development too.
May Allah guide you to make the decision that will be best for your son and may He make it easy for you as you support him in overcoming his language delay.
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Disclaimer: The conceptualization and recommendations stated in this response are very general and purely based on the limited information provided in the question. In no event shall AboutIslam, its counselors or employees be held liable for any damages that may arise from your decision in the use of our services.
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