Starting school is a big change for all kids, but it can be more challenging for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These 5 tips will help you understand what school readiness means for kids with autism, how to build skills for school and other considerations that will go a long way to set up your child for success in the classroom.
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1. Consider If Your Child Has The Skills Required to Start School
While academic skills like identifying colors and shapes can be important, there are practical skills that are critical for school readiness. Consider where your child is at with each of these skills below:
- Sitting in a group for several minutes near other children without getting upset or trying to leave the group.
- Following simple instructions like “stand up” and “come here”.
- Communicating basic needs like needing the bathroom, help, or feeling hunger.
- Showing safe behavior near others. If your child is not able to be near others without hurting themselves or others, they are not ready for school.
- Switching between activities at school with relative ease.
- Wear school-appropriate clothing including shoes, pants, and other types of clothes based on the weather and school requirements.
- Using the bathroom at school and in different environments, as well as some independence with toileting.
2. Practice Social Skills and School Scenarios
Your child might not be able to do all these things yet - and that’s ok. Every child develops at their own pace and has their own challenges. Familiarizing your child with school routines and expectations can help build these critical skills and ease their transition. These activities can help:
- Role-Play: Act out scenarios your child might encounter at school, such as lining up, raising their hand, or following instructions from the teacher.
- Social Stories: Create personalized stories that illustrate appropriate behaviors and expectations in different school situations.
- Field Trips: Visit the school playground or cafeteria during non-school hours to help your child become familiar with the environment.
These strategies are based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). This is a proven, research-based therapy that empowers people with autism by helping them build skills for daily life and make the most of their potential. At Behavioral Framework, our ABA Therapists collaborate with families to help children with autism transition to school with success.
3. Find the Right Classroom
Talk to the school about classroom options. Sometimes classrooms are made up of mostly peers without autism, whereas other times classrooms are assigned for only children with autism.
You should be aware of the pros and cons of each placement, and understand the level of support your child might need to participate in the selected classroom.
4. Prepare a Comfort Kit
Many children with autism find comfort in familiar objects or sensory experiences. Creating a "comfort kit" can help your child self-regulate and cope with the stress and overstimulation that may come with the new school environment. Work with your child's teacher to ensure the comfort kit is allowed in the classroom and to establish guidelines for its appropriate use.
A comfort kit could include:
- Noise-canceling headphones or earplugs.
- Fidget toys or sensory items.
- Favorite books, toys, or other comforting items from home.
- Visual schedules or social stories to refer to during transitions or challenging moments.
5. Be Patient and Stay Flexible and Positive
Remember that the transition to school is a process, and it may take time for your child to adjust fully. Stay positive, celebrate small victories, and continue to provide the support and encouragement your child needs.
Like all people, kids with autism have good days and bad days, and this might reflect on their progress. Keep working with them and their therapist to find the best way forward - together.
Setting goals for School To Help Your Child Thrive
School can be a lot of fun, but it can also be very challenging. Before you start preparing your child for school, ask yourself this: what is the goal of pre-K? Is it exposure to new places? Is it to increase your child’s social skills? This will help you focus on the skills and challenges that need to be addressed.
You can team up with an ABA therapist to support your child with autism transition to school and maximize their success. ABA therapy can complement school, and your therapist can even collaborate with the school to align efforts. Reach out to Behavioral Framework to learn more about ABA and how we can help.