Thalia

Girl, born December 2008

Thalia is HIV+

From someone who works with her:  Thalia is an incredibly smart little girl.  She is really shy and reserved which makes it difficult to get to know her true personality at first.  At preschool she does really well sitting in circle time and sings along with and does hand motions to all of her favorite songs.  She can respond to the question "what is your name" which is a new skill we are trying to teach all of the kids.  Thalia does really well playing with toys if an adult is playing with her, but as soon as the adult leaves, she will quit playing and follows them.  Thalia doesn't run up to new people and demand attention like many of the other children.  Instead she sits back with the nannies that she knows and waits for people to approach her.  Some times she will refuse to go with someone she doesn't know and will throw a fit if they try to take her.  Other times she goes with them just fine.  Thalia has a really strong bond with one of our nannies.  Thalia will often choose to sit with this lady rather than participating in the activities that the other children are doing.  It is very encouraging to see that she has this bond and that she is so comfortable around Bouta, her nanny.  Thalia loves to play with peg puzzles and is really good at putting the pieces in.  You have to work to get her to smile as she is a little more reserved, but when she does, she has a beautiful little smile.  Often if Thalia is happy, she will just give you a smirk instead of a full smile.  She enjoys playing on the play ground and going down the slide. Thalia tries her hardest to follow directions and be a good girl.  On the way to and from preschool the children hold on to a rope which helps keep them all together and teaches them how to stay in a line.  Thalia is devoted to hold on to this rope even though it's a challenge for her.  Thalia is a very slow walker and often can't keep up with the others, but regardless she never lets go.  I played with blocks with Thalia the other day, and was surprised to see that she could stack 6 on top of each other even though she has never played with this toy before.  Thalia is doing really well developmentally and is right on target.  Her language skills are a bit behind, but this is very common among our children.