10 Basic Skills Children with Autism Need to Start School
Starting school is a significant milestone for any child, but it can be especially challenging for children with autism. These children often need extra support and preparation to ensure a smooth transition. Here are ten basic skills that children with autism need to develop to start school successfully.
1. Social Interaction Skills
Making Friends: Children with autism need to learn how to interact with their peers. This includes sharing, taking turns, and playing cooperatively. Practicing these skills helps them build friendships and feel more comfortable in group settings.
Reading Social Cues: Understanding social cues like facial expressions and body language is crucial. Teaching children to recognise and respond to these cues helps them understand how others feel and behave appropriately.
2. Communication Skills
Expressing Needs and Wants: It’s essential for children to communicate their needs and wants clearly. They should be able to ask for help, express their feelings, and participate in conversations using words, gestures, or communication devices.
Listening Skills: Good listening skills are vital for following instructions and understanding what teachers and classmates are saying. Practising active listening helps children pay attention and engage in classroom activities.
3. Basic Academic Skills
Recognising Letters and Numbers: Familiarity with letters and numbers gives children a head start in reading and math. Knowing the alphabet and being able to count helps them participate in early literacy and numeracy activities.
Understanding Basic Concepts: Children should know basic concepts like colours, shapes, and sizes. This foundational knowledge supports learning in various subjects.
4. Fine Motor Skills
Holding a Pencil: Children need to be able to hold and control a pencil or crayon. This skill is essential for writing, drawing, and other classroom activities.
Using Scissors: Cutting with scissors helps develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor control. Being able to use scissors safely and effectively is important for many school tasks.
5. Gross Motor Skills
Running, Jumping, and Climbing: Good gross motor skills allow children to participate in physical activities and play safely. These skills also help with overall physical development and coordination.
Balancing and Coordination: Activities like hopping on one foot, skipping, and balancing help children develop coordination. These skills are important for physical education and playground activities.
6. Self-Help Skills
Dressing and Undressing: Children should be able to dress and undress themselves, including managing buttons, zippers, and shoes. This independence is important for activities like changing for gym class or putting on coats.
Using the Bathroom: Being able to use the bathroom independently is crucial. Children need to know how to wash their hands and manage their hygiene without constant help.
7. Emotional Regulation
Managing Emotions: Children should be able to identify and manage their emotions. Techniques like deep breathing, counting to ten, or asking for a break can help them stay calm and focused.
Dealing with Frustration: Learning how to cope with frustration and setbacks is important. Encouraging problem-solving and resilience helps children handle challenges better.
8. Attention and Concentration
Focusing on Tasks: Being able to focus on a task for a reasonable amount of time is essential. Activities like listening to a story, completing a puzzle, or following a craft project help develop this skill.
Following Directions: Understanding and following multi-step directions is important for classroom activities. Practice with simple tasks at home can help children get used to following instructions.
9. Problem-Solving Skills
Thinking Critically: Encouraging children to think critically and come up with solutions to problems helps them in many areas of learning. Simple puzzles, games, and everyday challenges are great for developing this skill.
Making Decisions: Giving children opportunities to make choices helps them learn decision-making skills. Whether it’s choosing a snack or deciding what game to play, these decisions build confidence and independence.
10. Adaptability to Change
Transitioning Between Activities: Children with autism often find it hard to move from one activity to another. Practicing transitions at home, like moving from playtime to mealtime, helps them adjust more easily.
Handling New Environments: Introducing children to new environments gradually helps them become more adaptable. Visiting the school beforehand, meeting the teacher, and exploring the classroom can make the first day less overwhelming.
Practical Tips for Parents
- Create a Routine: Establish a daily routine that includes time for reading, playing, and learning. A consistent routine helps children feel secure and understand what to expect.
- Encourage Play: Play is a natural way for children to develop many of these skills. Provide opportunities for both structured and unstructured play.
- Read Together: Reading with your child every day builds vocabulary, listening skills, and a love for books. Ask questions about the story to engage them further.
- Practice Self-Help Skills: Give your child opportunities to practice dressing, using the bathroom, and other self-help skills. Be patient and provide guidance as needed.
- Model and Practice Social Skills: Role-play different social situations and practice taking turns, sharing, and understanding feelings. Praise your child for positive interactions.
- Provide a Learning Environment: Create a space at home with books, art supplies, puzzles, and educational toys. Encourage your child to explore and learn through play.
Conclusion
Children with autism need a range of skills to transition smoothly and start school. By focusing on social interaction, communication, basic academic skills, motor skills, self-help skills, emotional regulation, attention and concentration, problem-solving, and adaptability, parents and caregivers can help their children prepare for school. Providing a supportive and nurturing environment at home lays the foundation for a successful school experience. With the right preparation and support, children with autism can thrive in their new school environment.
We’re here to support you
At OneOnOne Children’s Therapy, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to grow and thrive.
Our clinics are not just a space for therapy – it’s a place where children can discover their strengths, overcome challenges, and reach their full potential.
By combining innovative therapy techniques with a stimulating and supportive environment, we’re proud to offer a holistic approach to paediatric therapy and early intervention that addresses the unique needs of each child we support. Our school readiness groups are run by our Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists and Certified ESDM Therapists.
Reach out for support
If you are interested in school readiness groups and want to know how we can help your child, OneOnOne Children’s Therapy is here to help.
Call us on (02) 80657837 or email. We also have a parent program to help you prepare your chid for school. It runs for 6 months and we meet once a month on Zoom to cover all aspects of getting ready for school.
We are a dedicated team of Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Certified ESDM Therapists, and Psychologists, serving families in Bondi Junction and Mascot, Sydney’s Eastern suburbs. Our clinics are tailored to provide exceptional intervention for children with autism, developmental delays, disabilities, and learning difficulties, ensuring they receive the best possible care and support.
