Preparing Your Special Needs Preschooler for Kindergarten

When a child with special needs is moving onto kindergarten there are many valid emotions rolled into one including joy, apprehension, sadness and excitement. Ideally, the shared and ultimate goal for families and school teams is that the child be successful and happy in a school environment. Here are some strategies to help build a foundation for success and happiness. These strategies  come from my 17 years of experience working as a Special Needs Preschool Teacher for the past 17 years, both in the non-profit and public-school sector. 

Practice Basic Skills: 

• Handwashing for up to 20 seconds

• Taking Coat and Backpack on/off (Hint: start by putting the hood on first, and then it’s easier to find the sleeves)

• Toileting (including wiping and moving down/pulling up clothing)

• Zipping/Unzipping Backpack and removing/returning items to and from the backpack

• Name Writing 

• Doing jobs at home (throw away trash, put toys in the toy box, etc)

Communicate with the Teacher (both with the current preschool teacher and the incoming kindergarten teacher/administration). Here’s some ideas of what to communicate:

• Health Needs (asthma, epi pen, allergies, etc.).

• Strategies your child uses for self-calming (such as using a small, quiet fidget item, wearing noise canceling headphones, or taking deep breaths).

• Triggers (For example, is your child upset by loud noises or messes- such as having dirty hands from painting or doing a freeze dancing activity in the classroom)

• What are some of your child’s favorites (book, color, song, etc.)

Model for Your Child

• Read aloud to your child and talk about the words and what is in the pictures

• Talk about completing basic tasks while you are doing them; such as the process of making cookies (measuring ingredients, cracking eggs, getting a large spoon, mixing, etc.)

• Model language through play (such as pretending you’re ordering or serving food at a pretend restaurant)

• Practice problem solving (for example, what to do when your child wants to use your yellow crayon and you’re not done using it yet).

Familiarize Yourself and Your Child with the School

• Drive by or walk to the school (whichever is your preferred mode of transportation)

• If possible, walk around the school (look at the doors, outside benches, windows, etc.)

• Play on the school playground during the summer

• Connect with the administration and/or front office staff (these are important people to know!)

• Create a “Social Story” (a picture book/guide) that outlines what to expect on the first day of school

• If your child will be taking the bus to school, reach out to and connect with the school/ district transportation department.

  
  

Practice Social Skills (with adult support as needed!)

• Spend time in places with other children (park, restaurant play place, children’s museum, etc.)

• Practice introducing yourself to other children (“Hi, I’m….)

• Practice key social phrases (Do you want to play, I want a turn, etc.)

• Practice turn taking (going down the slide, throwing/kicking a ball, etc.)

• Practice working together to complete a project (building a sand castle, playing soccer, etc.)

• Practice playing games with rules (hide and seek, red light/green light, etc)