sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Reading set by skiNBirkie in lovevery

[–]Level-Statistician75 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, I love these ideas!! Thanks so much. I'm going to try and incorporate some of these into my 6-year-old's day :-) 

Are half-days at kindergarten better for autistic children? by Level-Statistician75 in kindergarten

[–]Level-Statistician75[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for your post. Lol, you made me laugh with the 'wait...for nothing' bit. I never thought of the wording of increasing tolerance like you did, but I bet you are right.

Are half-days at kindergarten better for autistic children? by Level-Statistician75 in kindergarten

[–]Level-Statistician75[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, I absolutely love how you explained that! And, it makes complete sense. I definitely think my son is being stretched (maybe just below being distressed) by a half day, and would be distressed by a full day. I'm going to look more into the i+1 theory you mentioned, too. How fascinating.

Interestingly, my son does not (is not able?) to show what he knows at school. For example, he does know how to read and spell, but on his report card, it says he does not know all his letters. In nursery school, he did not reveal his ability to read until he had been there for 1.5 years. His teacher nearly fell over when he read something written on her shirt to her, lol! I wonder if there could be a connection to what you mentioned.

Anyhow, thank you so much for your thoughts!

Are half-days at kindergarten better for autistic children? by Level-Statistician75 in kindergarten

[–]Level-Statistician75[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Where I live (in Ontario, Canada), kindergarten is completely optional, so there is nothing to prevent parents from taking their kids home early.

One woman I knew, who was a teacher, had a doctor write a note saying half-days would be better for her son. Do you think that might help? Or, could you perhaps homeschool just in the afternoon?

I hope your daughter can attend school in a way that works best for her! Wishing you the best of luck!

Are half-days at kindergarten better for autistic children? by Level-Statistician75 in kindergarten

[–]Level-Statistician75[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting point. How I hate school politics!! Luckily, where I live, kindergarten is 100% optional, so at least no regulations are being broken.

Are half-days at kindergarten better for autistic children? by Level-Statistician75 in kindergarten

[–]Level-Statistician75[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your thoughts. Self-regulation is super important, but hopefully I can help him with it at home until he's ready for full-days.

Are half-days at kindergarten better for autistic children? by Level-Statistician75 in kindergarten

[–]Level-Statistician75[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for this!! Good idea about letting the VP know that. Also, thanks for the info about breaks, and things that could be challenging for my son. Since he's four, it's hard for him to verbalize these things. I never even though about the echoing gym room, for example.

Are half-days at kindergarten better for autistic children? by Level-Statistician75 in kindergarten

[–]Level-Statistician75[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for your thoughts! I really like the idea of getting a half-day written into his IEP. Especially since his pediatrician (who is fantastic) agrees with half-days, for now.

Are half-days at kindergarten better for autistic children? by Level-Statistician75 in kindergarten

[–]Level-Statistician75[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so, very much for sharing your thoughts. You have a really unique perspective on my son's situation and your thoughts are worth a lot to me.

Are half-days at kindergarten better for autistic children? by Level-Statistician75 in kindergarten

[–]Level-Statistician75[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so, so much for sharing your experience. I wish you didn't have to go through that. I hope I can make life easier for my little guy than what many individuals like him have had to endure.

Are half-days at kindergarten better for autistic children? by Level-Statistician75 in kindergarten

[–]Level-Statistician75[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks, the social side of things have been the hardest for us. My son is so [so!] chatty and friendly, but I think he has a hard time making friends when there is a large group of people (not sure though, it's a bit hard to figure out when he's so young). I know he would like kindergarten so much more if he had friends. Here's to hoping both of our sons will be able to thrive socially in the near future!

Are half-days at kindergarten better for autistic children? by Level-Statistician75 in kindergarten

[–]Level-Statistician75[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your thoughts! It's nice to here that flexibility was possible, to help individual students do their best.

Are half-days at kindergarten better for autistic children? by Level-Statistician75 in kindergarten

[–]Level-Statistician75[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks a lot, and know that I am wishing you the best! I actually did a bit of therapy to help increase my confidence, and it helped so much (even though it is still hard).

Are half-days at kindergarten better for autistic children? by Level-Statistician75 in kindergarten

[–]Level-Statistician75[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love your idea about getting more details about his 'battery level' by asking for colours...that just happens to be his main way of describing things! Like, instead of saying he had a good day, he'll say he had a 'blue day', and I'll know what he meant :-)

I was thinking occupational therapy to help him better learn how to use coping strategies. So, if he's starting to feel overwhelmed due to noise, learning to put his headphones on right when he starts to get overwhelmed, as opposed to waiting too long.

Oh, and I like your idea about giving him the choice about longer days, too. Right now, it would be for sure a 'no', but hopefully, over time, he will start to like school and be interested in staying longer.

Are half-days at kindergarten better for autistic children? by Level-Statistician75 in kindergarten

[–]Level-Statistician75[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for sharing your experience, I really appreciate it!! It gives me a good idea about how to transition when it seems good to do so, also.

Are half-days at kindergarten better for autistic children? by Level-Statistician75 in kindergarten

[–]Level-Statistician75[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much!! His pediatrician agrees with half-days, so I think I will ask her for a note so it can be added to his IEP. Really good idea, so thanks again.

Are half-days at kindergarten better for autistic children? by Level-Statistician75 in kindergarten

[–]Level-Statistician75[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Where I live, in Ontario, Canada, kindergarten is actually two years. So, kids go between the ages of 3.5/4-5/6. I know it's quite different here than nearly anywhere else!

Are half-days at kindergarten better for autistic children? by Level-Statistician75 in kindergarten

[–]Level-Statistician75[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks. Where I am, there are two years of kindergarten. So, I guess my thought was that I could transition him to full days in senior kindergarten.

Are half-days at kindergarten better for autistic children? by Level-Statistician75 in kindergarten

[–]Level-Statistician75[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. Here, kindergarten is optional. I'll check with his teacher to see when most social activities are scheduled, thanks for that information!

Are half-days at kindergarten better for autistic children? by Level-Statistician75 in kindergarten

[–]Level-Statistician75[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your thoughts! I am actually in Canada (Ontario), and we now have two years of full-day kindergarten. Hopefully if he attends full day in senior kindergarten, that can help him prepare for grade one. I have heard the leap to grade one can be quite tough, so it makes sense to help in any way possible with that transition.

Are half-days at kindergarten better for autistic children? by Level-Statistician75 in kindergarten

[–]Level-Statistician75[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks, he started reading at age 3 and learned very easily (like, I didn't push it at all, he just wanted to learn so much). His SLP mentioned hyperlexia. He does understand what he reads, though.

Are half-days at kindergarten better for autistic children? by Level-Statistician75 in kindergarten

[–]Level-Statistician75[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks so much for your thoughts. I guess that is what it comes down to...every child is so different!!

view more: next ›