Expert: Sharon Crandall - 9/1/2010

Question
My son loves to draw and build and just create VERY imaginative.  He doesn't know when to stop and give his attention to the teacher. He's exploring or copying or encouraging bad behavior. He has been diagnosed with verbal apraxia and has tubes due to many ear infections. He started preschool in a needs only room then the following year moved to an intergrated room. He's come a very long way. His teachers say he's great when he's on task it's just getting him there. I don't know if it's a maturity thing or if it's more. He has always been about 6-9 months behind the pac. any advice would be great - I would like to give him some tools so he could refocus himself.

Answer
Hello Holly,

Unfortunately, our schools are designed for left brained children who think in a more structured way and it truly stifles the creative, Right brained child. I highly recommend he go to a Montessori school, if at all possible. If not, I hope that you would not put too many demands on him to sit quietly in such an organized atmosphere when he cannot freely use his imagination and creativity. Many kids like this do not do well in school and you will find many, many people who have been very successful in occupations/businesses/careers outside the box, who did not do well in school--Einstein for one.

As to focusing, he focuses very well, using his imagination and creativity. It doesn't sound like focusing is the problem but simply difficulty in changing his focus from what he is more inclined to do, to what the teacher would like him to do.

I do think maturity will help him handle that kind of environment better, but he might never fit in, in that kind of setting very well and I hope you would be okay with it. It makes it more difficult as a parent, but I would hope that you get him in all kinds of music, art, writing, drama, or perhaps some scientific areas where he can explore more and use his creative imagination.

Music is excellent for helping to organize the brain and would be good to help him.

I do hope this helps. The main thing is to accept him for who he is and help him as best you can to get through school. He might possibly shine and really develop after school as an adult where he is more free to express his creativity.

Sharon Crandall
Personality Science Consultant