The Power of Natural Preschool Setting
In the state of North Carolina, children aged 4 can be considered eligible for a preschool program. While specific conditions must be met in order to be considered eligible (found here), children within a preschool program
Children with autism may need additional support in place in order to participate in group-based instruction. This is where a preschool-readiness program can be particularly valuable in setting your child up for success!
Smart Start
Signs of Delay in Preschool Readiness
While the transition to a preschool environment brings its own challenges for every family, generally, 4 year old children are expected to have met a few key milestones in order to get the most out of the preschool environment. Some signs that your child may not be ready for preschool may include:
- Separating from parents and caregivers with minimal distress
- Able to understand and follow simple instructions
- Can express their needs verbally or using gestures such as ASL.
- Able to walk independently and without significant falls.
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Building Preschool Readiness
For children who may be facing a delay in their developmental milestones for preschool, a number of underlying causes may play a role. Part of preparing children with autism for preschool is to meet them where they are and gently introducing the skills to help them thrive in their new environment. A few suggestions are as follows:
- Practice separations & transitions
- Practice separating from your child in a safe environment — such as by leaving them briefly with a grandparent or trusted friend.
- Model Social Skills
- When interacting with your child, label behaviors like turn-taking and waving.
- Build Emotional Regulation Tools
- Find and practice skills that help your child relax and recenter themselves — like taking a deep breath or using a fidget toy.
Programs like our own FUNction Junction are designed to empower parents with the tools they need to help build these skills, while providing a preschool-ready environment.
Wondering About Developmental Milestones?
Have questions about your child’s development, or wondering if a certain diagnosis may be a fit? Try out our developmental screening tool— it’s a fast, free way to get a snapshot of your child’s progress on his or her developmental milestones.