Activities for Autistic Children in
Kindergarten

If your child is preschool age, you should start researching activities for autistic children in kindergarten. Learning about kindergarten activities for children with autism can help you decide how to plan your child's education. You want to find kindergarten educational activities that help your child learn and address any developmental concerns.

View games for children with autism.

The transition from preschool to kindergarten is a major step in the life of all children with and without autism. For kindergarten to be most successful for autistic children, the individual needs and developmental concerns of each child must be met.

The formal education of a kindergarten sometimes presents a challenge to some children with autism. Common concerns can include:

• Sensory issues
• Refusal to follow the teacher's directions
• Communication problems with other children
• Tantrums when the routine is interrupted
• Limited verbal skills
• Low attention span

Parents can work with therapists to improve areas of concern to help children work on any problem areas.

It is often difficult for parents of children with autism to decide between inclusion in public or private school or special education programs for kindergarten. The type of education you select depends upon your child's developmental needs and the educational resources available in your area.

Experts who support inclusion or educating autistic children alongside children without autism argue that many autistic children learn well from other children and will improve at a faster rate than in special education settings. Critics of inclusion claim that many teachers in inclusive classrooms are not trained well enough to deal with the special needs of autistic children.

Whether you choose private, homeschool or public education, your child has a legal right to an individual education program (IEP). The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires all American public school systems to provide a child with autism with an IEP, even if the child is educated outside of the public school system. Contact your public school district for more information and to schedule an IEP qualifying assessment.

When you are planning your child's education, research the local options, consult with autism support groups and seek advice from your child's therapist and doctor.

During kindergarten, children with autism can benefit from the literacy, math and developmental activities. Teachers will provide many of these types of activities in the classroom. You can supplement your child's education at home with the same types of activities to assist your child's developmental and educational goals.

Literacy activities help promote early reading and improve verbal skill. Literacy activities include:

• Animal Match: The child hears an animal sound and selects a card with a picture of the appropriate animal to match the sound. This activity builds listening and comprehension skills.
• Simon Says: This classic games requires a child to follow the simple instructions of a designated leader. Whoever does not follow instructions during each turn is eliminated from the game. Simple instructions include "touch your nose", "hop on one foot", or "flap your arms". This activity improves skills for listening and following directions.
• Letters in a Box: Upper and lower case versions of letters written on cards are hidden around the room. The child finds the letter and places the correct letter version in a box with the appropriate version of the letter written on it. The first person to get 6 letters in the correct box wins.

Math activities for autistic children in kindergarten include:

• Counting Shapes: Cards cut into simple shapes are mixed together. The child counts out the number of matching shapes.
• Color by Numbers: Sections of a picture contain numbers to indicate a color. The teacher provides a color chart of about four colors that are numbered. The chart allows a child who can’t read to understand the color and number reference. The child colors the picture based upon the numbers.
• Stones in a Bucket: A child rolls a dice to determine how many small stones to put in a bucket.

Children with autism can also benefit from the following developmental activities:

• Sensory integration therapy: A specially trained therapist can provide a number of sensory activities to address a child's specific sensory processing impairment.
• Social stories: Stories about the appropriate response to real-life social situations are an effective method for improving the social skills of a kindergarten-age child.
• Visual supports: Visual supports such as picture cards help many autistic children learn faster.
• Songs and Rhymes: Incorporate educational ideas in the form of a song or rhyme because many children enjoy the sing-song pattern of songs, nursery rhymes and poems.
• Art: Many autistic children respond well to art projects. Art activities can help you introduce educational concepts such as colors and shapes.

You can find more information about preparing your child for kindergarten and activities for autistic children in kindergarten at the following websites:

• Education: The Education site provides a helpful article about the transition to kindergarten from the Autism Society of America.
• Do2Learn: Do2Learn has free educational resources for picture cards, homeschool and alphabets helpers.
• Internet4classrooms: The site has a large selection of online kindergarten skill activities.
• Positively Autism: Positively Autism has a number of lessons suitable for kindergarten.
• Zac Browser: Zac Browser provides some kindergarten-age educational games designed specifically for children with autism.

Helping your child prepare for and thrive in kindergarten may be challenging. However, you can find the right activities for your child with research and a strong understanding of your child's needs.

• Preschool Activities for Autistic Children
• Possible Causes of Autism
• Tips for Raising Kids with Autism
• What Is Your Autism Empathy Rating?

• Lesson Plans for Autistic Children
• Adult Autism Symptoms
• Social Skills Activities for Kids with Autism
• Speech Therapy Ideas for Autistic Children
• Famous Autistic People

• Category:Autism Resources
• Category:Autism Treatments
• Music Therapy for Autism
• Category:Autism and Children
• Impact on Families of Autistic Children