Dore Talk

Hi

G has been on Dore since Dec 07 and is on mentals, we seem to be on a 'good patch' at the moment - good attititude and trying hard (which is a novelty :) ).  I've seen big improvements in her reading and now can spell lots of the first 100 words.  Her big problem still is confidence, at home she is fantastic, really chatty and clever.  But in any other situation, she is a different child, won't tell anyone if she's upset, hurt, doesn't want to play anymore etc.  Last night she had me in tears bencause she wishes she had more friends.  My question is - do you think this aspect will be helped by dore, or do I need to think of something else too?

 

Dore has really helped Harry with his confidence. We are nearing the end now and this summer has seen huge leaps in this area. Its still early days for G and I'm sure this will improve over time.

Hi EmeraldJan, Dore does help with confidence. Probably the most noticable change in Laura is her confidence. It really used to hurt when she came home from school in tears because no one would play with her. She would spend lunchtimes sitting on her own. I didn't think something like Dore would change this but Laura now makes friends easily and if she has a problem she has no trouble telling someone about it. She has also done 2 presentations for Dore where she had to answer questions in front of 100+ people. Before the programme I would not have been able to get her into a room with that may people let alone stand up and speak. Keep up the good work. The changes will happen eventually. Good luck

DEBBIEXX

Thanks for that, she came in this afternoon because she had accidently hurt someone and didn't know how to sort it out!  It took half an hour of tears before she could go over to talk, argh.  She did it eventually and I think we're just going to stand firm and mae sure she sorts things out whether she wants to or not.

Confidence does take time EmeraldJan they have had a lifetime of struggle to contend with and feeling different from their friends.  As you say she is making progress but it will take time for G to realise she can actually do it, once she does realise that the problems that have always blighted her life no longer seem so important because they are no longer an issue, her confidence will increase.

Leila went through her younger years not only with her global difficulties but also her inability to really understand what people were telling her. Being permanently in the fog affected everything in her life including making friends. Since Dore she has come into her own she knows who she is, where she is and stands on her own two feet. She is no longer afraid to say what she thinks and feels and is honest about how she sees other people, wisdom has become part of her make up ahead of her years, as G will Emeraldjan just give her time. Ellie XXX

I wonder if it might help to have G involved in something away from school, where she's not around people who know her as 'the girl who can't read'? For me then Brownies, Guides, & church in the next village was really useful, as I wasn't around the same people who saw me struggle in school.

Miss Ellie, thanks for that, I hope this is just a low point for her.

 

Psyduck, I agree, she's already given up Brownies and Tykwondo (sp?).  She struggled with tykwondo because she became good and got put to the back and then couldn't see.  This was before we knew she had dyslexia, I know put it down to having to then listen to the instructions and now she won't go back!

Looking into a drama class, they did it at school they other day with her new teacher and she came home full of it so I thought I'd make the most of it.  I rang them and let them know about G and that I want to encourage her but not give her extra pressure and they sounded really good.  It's on Sat so I'll let you know how it goes.

Danielle has never suffered with her confidence but I've always encouraged her to take part in extra curricular activites. It's just so hard to find something they'll be interested in, especially as they get older. She already does Shotokan and swimming which she loves but I was trying to think of something else she'd enjoy. I remembered a friend of mine in school joining the St.John's Ambulance and she used to regularly help out at big music concerts and football matches etc once she'd turned 14. So I sent off for some information and she went to her first session tonight. She's met new friends already and she can't wait to go back. I think knowing there's a chance she may get to be backstage at a big concert in the future probably swayed her into joining lol. There's also the added benefit of once you're 14 you can do your Duke of Edinburgh through St.Johns aswell. Even my 14 yr old nephew and his friend want to enrol now so it shows it must be pretty cool haha!!

As you've said G has dropped out of Brownies then I take it she's a few years younger than Danielle but it may be worth giving it a go. It's only 50p per week aswell .... bonus!!! Sounds like she's interested in the drama side too, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you both

 Emeradjan I can so much remember Leila being the same with outside activities, I would try so many brownies, guides, drama group etc ony for her to pull out eventually. Roller skating she did for several years but it took her 3 times as long as anyone else to learn and she used to get really upset in competitions which certainly did not help her confidence, so we stopped that completely.

The only thing she did enjoy and still does is horse riding again this took a while to master but she does love it and she still goes every Thursday. It is just finding a nitche for them that they like and have the drive for. Since Dore she has taken up kayaking and wants to join the sailing club as well so we are definately moving forward.

Next year she wants to start working at the local GSPCA with animals when she is 14, it can only help in the long run to give her that independence. Ellie XXX

Thanks very much for the support.  G is a bit of a givver upper too.  She has stuck with flute lessons and swimming but neither give her that social element I'm looking for.

Well drama went well, they were really good.  They came over and took her over to another child who told her what they did etc.  She had a really good time, played the name game, splat and made up a play together - sounds good to me :)

 

EmeraldJan - the drama club sounds great - its all about finding a good one. I was intrigued about what you said about Taekwondo. Harry does karate and they start at the back when they join, and as they go through the grades, they make their way to the front. Their teacher is very strict, but excellent and really keeps them motivated. Kids have been with the club from age 6 to adult.

Bugalug - yes G started at the front which was great as she is a visual learner and couldn't rely on the instructions.  But after she graded she was moved to the back and stopped wanting to go.  At the time we didn't know about her dyslexia and just thought she'd had enough of it.  Now of course she won't go back, argh.