3 month report

Yanmei helping Steven put up tiles in the bathroom - May 2000

Report of the 21^st June 2000 – by the Copenhagen Social Services

The reason for this visit is because the applicants have now had their daughter for 3 months. The female applicant, Yanmei and her big brother were present during the visit. Yanmei was baptised at Whitsun, at the same time that Thomas was confirmed. She was wearing a fine white dress, and liked being the centre of festivity.

Yanmei is approximately 2 years and 8 months old. She has not put on any weight and has only grown a little in height. The applicants feel that this could be because she moves around a lot and was used to sitting more at the Social Welfare Institute. Since the last visit, the applicants have taken Yanmei to the Doctor for a medical check up. The Doctor found everything to be fine. Her skin is dry, so they use moisturizer on her skin. She has had a common cold, but not suffered any other illness. The applicants think that she is healthy and robust. The health visitor has visited a couple of times, but as everything was going so well, she doesn’t see any reason to visit anymore.

The applicants still find Yanmei somewhat younger than her age, but there is progress all the time. The feel that during the first months she has used much energy to adapt to her new life – e.g. her motor functions have further improved. Likewise her language is also developing well. They do not try and pace her development, but let her develop at her own pace.

The applicants think that Yanmei is happy, curious and active most of the time. In between, she takes small breaks with her index finger in her mouth, mostly in the morning – she is not an early riser. Yanmei is very much aware of what she does and does not want, and can at times be stubborn and tough. She has a fine sense of humour. She is attached to both applicants, and can just as well go to one or the other if she e.g. needs consolation. Yanmei understands most of the everyday talk, and also says a number of words. She often tries to repeat what the applicants say, and they think that her language skills in good development.

Yanmei is very bright and happy in the evening, and it is often a little late before she is put in bed during the summer months. Usually she sleeps from 21:00 to 7-7:30. Before she is tucked in, the applicants read a story for her. She likes her bed and she likes to go to bed when she is tired. The applicants stay by her bed until she sleeps, and it varies how long that is. In the morning she is a slow starter. She still sleeps for 2 hours at midday.

Yanmei walks very steadily now and can walk far. She loves to go on trips. She has learned to crawl. Her fine motor function have always been good, and she has started drawing a little. She likes doing the same things as the applicants, and has not been pre-occupied with typical toys. However, she has become very fond of a baby doll and a pushchair which she received at her baptism, and also her play kitchen. She also likes children’s games, e.g. singing and peek-a-boo. She is also very fond of her books. She does not enjoy watching TV very much yet. The female applicant has started to attend a municipal playgroup with Yanmei, where the children are between 1½ and 3 years old. It took time for Yanmei to adapt to this, but now she seems to enjoy it and has a lot of fun.

Usually Yanmei eats the food that she is served, but she has just had a period where she would not eat very much. She has also begun to sit on the potty and understands what’s happening.

The female applicant does not believe that Yanmei will be ready to attend kindergarten when she is 3 years old. She expects that Yanmei will stay home longer. When, at sometime in the future, the female applicant begins to work, it will only be part-time so that Yanmei will not have to be looked after by others.

It seems to be going well with Yanmei. She is still somewhat behind in her development in certain areas, but she is thriving and developing well. The applicants are very fond of her. They are relaxed about the fact that she does not fully match her age, and they think that it is important that she is allowed to develop at her own pace.

__________________________________________________________________

Things we remember:

We had fitted a new bathroom just after Easter - so there was a busy traffic of plumbers and electricians. It didn't bother her at all.

We had an unusually warm spring, and whilst Yanmei hated having a bath, she loved sitting in her bathtub outside and play with water - and her kitchen.

Yanmei recognises names and can hand things out - e.g. go give this to Thomas (already after three or four weeks).

Yanmei was always happy, but the first couple of times that we told her off, she cried and cried!