Preparing a Child with Autism for Kindergarten
Complete guide to anticipate, communicate with the school, and facilitate this major step
Starting kindergarten is a major step for any child, and it is even more so for a child with autism. New environment, new people, new rules: everything changes at once. With appropriate preparation, this transition can go much better than feared. This guide offers parents a preparation calendar and concrete strategies to facilitate this entry into the school world.
Anticipate: the preparation calendar
6 months before: administrative procedures
Compile the MDPH file if not done, to request a support notification (AESH) and accommodations. Meet with the school principal to introduce your child and their needs. Learn about existing systems (UEMA, regular class with AESH, possible part-time).
3 months before: preparing the child
Start talking about school with visual supports: photos of the school, books about starting school, personalized social stories. Visit the school if possible when it is calm (during holidays). Meet the teacher before the start of the school year to create an initial connection.
1 month before: final preparations
Practice school routines at home: getting up early, getting dressed, having breakfast, leaving. Prepare the materials and let the child handle them. Regularly review the social story about school.
success rate with prior preparation
months of recommended preparation
of difficulties related to lack of anticipation
Communicate with the school
Clear and constructive communication with the educational team is essential. Prepare a presentation document about your child: their strengths, interests, difficulties, what helps them, what stresses them. Explain autism in a simple and concrete way. Propose strategies that work at home. Remain available for regular exchanges.
What the school needs to know
Inform the team about: your child's level of communication and how to talk to them, their sensory particularities (noise, light, touch), their rituals and need for predictability, their interests that can be motivational levers, their stress signals and calming strategies, their needs regarding autonomy (toileting, meals, dressing).
Adapting the first days
A gradual start
If possible, negotiate a staggered start: short attendance times in the first days, gradually increased. Arriving before other children allows for discovering the classroom in peace. Part-time in the first weeks can be beneficial if the child struggles with it.
Visual supports at school
Suggest visual tools to the teacher: daily schedule, pictograms for rules and activities, label for the coat rack with photo and name. These supports help the child orient themselves and reduce anxiety about the unknown.
COCO: preparing school skills
The COCO PENSE and COCO BOUGE program from DYNSEO can help prepare the skills required at school: attention, memory, logic. Fun games familiarize the child with structured activities. Alternating with active breaks COCO BOUGE teaches to switch between concentration and movement, just like at school.
Discover COCO"The preparation for our son's start to school began 6 months in advance. School visits, photo book, meeting with the teacher... On the big day, he already knew the places and the teacher. The first days were difficult but manageable. Today, he loves school. Without this preparation, I don't know how it would have gone."
Possible aids
- AESH (Accompanying Student in a Situation of Disability): individual or shared support
- UEMA (Unit of Teaching in Kindergarten Autism): specialized system in a regular school
- Part-time: possible adjustment if a full day is too difficult
- PAP/PPS: support or personalization plan for learning
- Educational team: regular meetings to adjust support
- SESSAD: medico-social support that can intervene at school
DYNSEO training for parents
The training "Supporting a Child with Autism: Keys and Solutions for Daily Life" helps parents prepare for major steps like starting school. It offers concrete strategies to facilitate transitions and support the child in new situations.
Discover the training💡 Resources for further exploration
The DYNSEO guide for supporting children with autism offers many strategies for daily life, including schooling. For future transitions, keep this guide as a resource throughout your child's journey.
Conclusion: a prepared step is a successful step
The entry into kindergarten for a child with autism can go well if it is anticipated and prepared. Starting early, communicating with the school, preparing the child with visual supports, adapting the first days: each action contributes to the success of this transition.
Do not hesitate to consult the professionals who support your child to coordinate the preparation. Together, you can create the conditions for a fulfilling schooling experience. DYNSEO tools like COCO support you in developing your child's skills.
