In our first post in this series, we talked about some of the differences between preschool and early intervention, and suggested some skills that might be helpful for autistic children to have before they start preschool. In this post, we will discuss how your child’s early intervention program can support their readiness to learn in a group environment, such as preschool or kindergarten.
Example #1: Separating from Caregiver
Some children struggle with separating from their parents or caregivers, which can be challenging to work on in a group setting like preschool. In early intervention sessions, your child will receive the one-on-one support that they need during this transition. The team will create an individualized plan to address this, which might include gradual steps like the parent staying in the session briefly, saying goodbye at the door, saying goodbye in the hallway, etc.
Example #2: Sharing Toys with Others
At preschool, the toys and materials are shared amongst all of the children. If a child has difficulty sharing toys, this can result in tantrums and other distressed behaviours. In a group environment where a child does not have 1:1 support, it can be challenging for the teacher to provide the amount of support and direction that your child may need to regulate and learn to share during situations like these. During early intervention sessions, we can support your child with learning how to share, play with toys in different ways, follow other people’s lead in play, and clean up when the activity is finished.
Example #3: Social Interactions
When children have difficulties with social skills, unless specific supports are in place, just being around other kids usually isn’t enough to remedy these difficulties. Your early intervention team can use specific strategies that support social skill development. With direct support from a BI, your child can practice important social skills such as turn-taking, joining activities, and initiating play with peers. At UP, we foster a social environment so even when children are staffed 1:1, they still have opportunities to engage socially with other kids. Our BI’s are skilled to facilitate play between children, providing guidance as needed to help each child build independence in play and social interactions. Developing these skills before preschool will prepare your child for meaningful peer interactions when less direct support is available.
Example #4: Self-Care Routines (e.g., Handwashing & toileting)
Some children may have difficulty engaging in self-care routines in new environments. Whether that is because they have not yet learned the skill, are in the process of learning the skill, or find it difficult to practice the skill in a new place or with different people, your child’s team can support them with these skills in early intervention sessions. For example, some common difficulties that we regularly help with include using new toilets, hand washing, keeping shoes on indoors, putting jackets on to go outside, and feeding. We may use social stories, visual supports, and gradual exposure to support your child in learning these skills or getting comfortable practicing them in new environments.
What is the best option for my child?
Ultimately, each family will decide if their child is ready to attend preschool based on a variety of factors. However, your child’s team can provide guidance and answer any questions you may have as you make this decision.
If your goal is for your child to attend preschool and you are wanting to focus on preschool readiness skills, our clinical team can work on preparing your child by supporting specific skills. Focusing on your child’s ability to separate from their caregiver, share with peers, develop their social skills, and practice self-care routines in new environments will be critical in ensuring their success. With additional practice, in a smaller environment, your child can learn these preschool-readiness skills, ensuring a smooth transition to preschool! Successful strategies can be shared with your child’s preschool teachers in the future to ensure consistency and support across environments.
If you would like support with getting your child ready for preschool, or would like to check out our clinic and see what a typical session would look like you can sign up for 1 free-trial session. Reach out to our clinical team today by booking a free 30-minute consultation here!