How To Tell If Your Autistic Child Is Ready for Kindergarten

Deciding if your autistic child is ready for kindergarten has to be one of the hardest questions of your child’s education. As autism parents, we know all too well the developmental milestones our children are still working on in relation to their same age peers. 

Our children may not be age appropriate in language developmentsocial skillsfine motor or large motor skills. We know we need to work at their developmental level for them to be successful and make the most progress. 

But how do we assess kindergarten readiness in an autistic child?

What does it mean to be kindergarten ready for your autistic child?

You should be looking for balance in skill level when assessing whether a child is ready for formal lessons or not. Some skills will be age appropriate and some won’t be even close. You’re looking for a balance in skills to work on versus those already achieved. No one wants to attempt something where they won’t be remotely successful.  Also, remember that play is learning. Therapy goals may need achieving before actual educational goals can be set.

What skills are needed for kindergarten?

You need your child to be learning ready, open to trying new things, starting to get some sense of self and independence, the ability to follow simple directions with guidance,  and working on  language skills to express ideas or feelings.  If your child isn’t going to a brick and mortar school , you don’t need to work on self soothing or worry about separation anxiety issue.

Don’t worry if your child isn’t there yet in all levels. You can start slow in order to ease into it. 

What should my autistic child know after completing kindergarten?

Self Awareness

Knowing basics about yourself such as age, boy or girl, draw yourself, who is in your family, toileting needs, and independence with some dressing skills are nice but not necessary if you’re homeschooling. Having a child who is showing some interests in learning to read or trying new things is all you’re really looking for to start formal lessons.

Motor Skills

Able to cut with scissors, use a glue stick, can write first name or letters, tries to skip hop and jump, imitation of motor skills, independence with some dressing skills, open and close backpack and toileting skills independently are skills you can address while your child is in kindergarten.

Cognitive

Knowing basic colors, can identify shapes, knows letters in their first name, recognize uppercase letters, recognized lowercase letters, is beginning to count in order, able to count objects up to five , place pictures in order of occurrence, complete a sequence or pattern and how to follow two step directions. Don’t panic if your child isn’t close to achieving those items. Pick some therapy goals to work on consistently.

How can you assess kindergarten readiness in an autistic child?

Download a copy of the Readiness Assessment for Kindergarten. It is not written as an absolute nor guidelines to prepare or drill your child. Just a glimpse into readiness skills that an educator may be looking at.

It will not evaluate developmental disabilities or any diagnosis. It will give you a starting point to know what skills to work on with your child. Remember that these are good for kindergarteners entering the public school system. The beauty of homeschooling is that you don’t need to necessarily teach all of them.

Should my autistic child repeat kindergarten?

I think it is important as a parent to focus on what your child has accomplished, where they need to grow and how are we ,jointly with their therapist, best able to achieve these goals. One of the best parts of homeschooling is that your child doesn’t have to work on grade level for all things. Determine where your child is at and work from there. Remember even slow progress is still progress.  You don’t need to look at it as repeating kindergarten. Just keep making progress.

Homeschooling is a journey. It can be a difficult one at times, but it is also a rewarding one. If you’re preparing or in the middle of the early learning years, you might be looking for some wonderful learning materials to inspire and encourage learning in your kids. If so, then this giveaway is for you!

Thanks to these amazing bloggers and brands that love supporting the homeschool community, we’re able to give back to homeschool families in the best way! 

Check out this AMAZING Prize package!

Gnome Counting Books Bundle from In All You Do – These counting books will help your child learn counting to twenty, recognizing numbers and number words, recognize sets under ten, and writing the numbers 1 – 10 through a variety of themed pages. With this bundle, you’ll have fun counting practice pages for holidays and celebrations throughout the year!
Reading Better Together Learn to Read Curriculum from Homeschooling 4 Him – Teach your child how to read while inspiring them to love reading for a lifetime with the Reading Better Together Curriculum. This curriculum features scripted, science backed lessons that tell you exactly what to say while teaching your child to read, and exciting books that you and your child can read together starting in week 2. You will also receive lifetime access to our support community so you can ask questions and get support throughout your child’s reading journey.
10 Songs All Preschoolers Should Know online course from Music in Our Homeschool – “10 Songs All Preschoolers Should Know” is for moms of preschoolers who are struggling to find the “good old songs” perfect for 2- to 5-year-olds. This course brings it all to you in the easiest manner possible! Your younger kids will sing and enjoy the songs right along with you and will enjoy the “musical” printables that will help with fine motor skills such as coloring and cutting.
Rabbit Trails through Literature: Preschool from Rabbit Trails Homeschool – Go down the Rabbit Trails in your home by reading great books to your preschooler with Rabbit Trails through Literature! This preschool curriculum will get your little one hands on and excited to learn, beginning a lifelong love of learning.
Alphabet Fine Motor Bundle from Simple Living. Creative Learning – The mats and cards in this Alphabet Themed Fine Motor Bundle are great for working on fine motor skills which is an important skill for kids in preschool and kindergarten. They will enjoy learning to control their hand, fingers and thumb movements which they will need throughout their life.
Community Helpers Bundle from Homeschool Helper Online – Your preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary students will learn about many different workers in their community through two weeks of lessons, hands-on activities, books, and videos. This 120-page bundle contains: The 2-week multi-subject unit study, Emergency 911 pack, Me on the Map pack, Community Helpers Copy & Color pack, Community Helpers Hats pack, and “When I’m Grown Up” emergent literacy book.
Storytime Lessons Bundle from Hope In The Chaos – Show your child just how powerful their favorite stories can be with Storytime Lessons! Together, you are going to harness the power of classic tales and add in engaging lessons created with your child in mind. Each edition of StoryTime Lessons is built around a classic children’s book and uses the text to help teach and reinforce foundational skills including reading, writing, and the love of a great story. Containing the first 2 editions in the series, you are going to love how simple learning with Storytime Lessons can be.
Junior Scientist Science Study: Human Body from Living Life and Learning – Your young learner will love learning about their own body. And with the Human Body Activities for Early Learners, you can help them do just that. With lapbook pieces, tracing and writing, puzzles, matching cards and fun diagrams, your little one will have fun learning about all the systems of the body.
Lacing Card Bundle from Special Needs Homeschooling – Download this bundle of lacing cards to print and laminate. Help your child work on fine motor skills as well as visual and spatial discrimination.
 

Learn more about each of the 2023 Early Learning Giveaway Sponsors


This giveaway wouldn’t be possible without our amazing sponsors! We encourage you to visit their site and take a look around at all their wonderful products perfect for homeschoolers! Thanks to these amazing bloggers and brands that love supporting the homeschool community, we’re giving away more than $375 in Early Learning Aged prizes!  
 

Want to enter to win? Simply enter by following as many sponsors and partners on the form below, and you’re in it to win it! 



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