What should a 4 year old with Autism learn in school?

Question

I know I can't count on the regular paced carriculum ex: expect my child to learn to cout to 100, count by 2s, learn days of the week, etc... What should I expect this year?

Answer 1

Determining her "educational needs" such as, what are her strengths? What are her weakness?

Has an IEP been done for your child? It is an individualized learning plan that spells out exactly what it is she will be expected to do this year.

What is her current level of performance? How is she functioning with adults? with peers? How is she communicating? What is helping her currently to effectively communicate? Is she using pictures? Is she on the Pecs system? Can she access an adult appropriatley?

What about her sensory needs? Does she need deep pressure before she starts a task? Does she need facial massages to stimulate her mouth muscles before an oral motor task????

What is her current level performance of her fine motor skills? Does she need big fat crayons? Can she use scissors or does she need adaptive scissors? Can she cut a piece of flimsy paper or does she need an index card for durability???
Can she does puzzles? How many pieces? How many different knobby puzzles can she do??
Can she trace? Can she draw? Can she draw while holding the paper? Can she look at the paper and watch what she draws at the same time??

Gross motor? Can she jump with 2 feet off the floor and land on them with balance? Does she know where her body is in space?
Can she march? Can she balance with one foot of the ground?
Can she climb?

Please speak with the school administration. You should have her educational goals spelled out for you.

Answer 2

Not all autistic kids are the same, go with what his skills are, does he like to count things? That could be a math focus, does he show an interest in certain animals, certain TV shows or movies.

The way he learns and can communicate what he learns is the most difficult aspect of autism, more so that what he is expected to learn.

Meet with the teacher and other staff and see what he's working on, and try to link it to skills or interests he already has, you'll see much more progress.

Answer 3

First of all, is your son mild, middle of the road or what?
Has he been getting regular therapy for autism? How long has he been in therapy. How often do you work with him on his education?
My son is 2.5 yrs old high functioning, mild they say. My son just started going to a regular pre school until he is evaluated again, we feel it's important for him to be around neurotypical kids as well, he has most of his life.
He does everything they do, he has issues with starting a task and completing it and he likes to run ahead of everyone, we will be working on that this weekend with some follow the leader games.

Is your son in a regular pre school or a pre school that handles special needs children? See you don't expect him TO LEARN those thing when he can BUT it depends on the severity of the autism.

Most children with autism have almost an obsession with numbers like my son who can now count to 36 and knows how to add and subtract a little bit.

IF you are in a regular pre school, did you meet with his teacher and explain to her that he autism >? We did that with my sons teachers and we told them look if you feel you can not handle this or maybe dont want to put in the extra effprt, tell us. We gave a list to my sons teachers on what to expect like what happens if he doesn't want to stop doing a puzzle, how to hand a transitional meltdown or to distract him or to call me since I live 10 minutes away.
Also my sons play therapist will be going once a month to help in the classroom

I just need more info on your sons needs and condition to give a better answer. email me if ya want

Answer 4

At age four I wouldn't expect any child to count to 100, never mind by two's. You should be setting goals and an education plan with your child's teacher and TA. They will help you to set realistic goals and objectives for your child. At this point your child should be working on making chioces, sticking to the task at hand, and following simple directions.

Your child is a gift from God and even though he/she may test your patience constantly - in his/her own way she/he loves you, and God loves you too!

Answer 5

What a child with autism is capable of varies so widely that there is no way anyone who hasn't spent a lot of time with your child could give an answer.

My niece is 10 & she can barely name her colors. She can't say her name. (Arianna becomes "a-ye-ah-ah") I'm working on her being able to type it with out assistance.

But I just came from an autism workshop where one kid could count to ten in English & Spanish BEFORE he went to school, just from watching Barney.

A lot of kids with aspergers brow up to be computer programmers, scientists & mathematicians.

Answer 6

The only way you can get a useful answer for this question is to tell us what diagnosis he has (exactly) -- because "autism" covers a very wide range -- and the affects can be anything from mild (Asperger's Syndrome) to the more severe diagnoses -- which will affect them attaining specific life skills.

Answer 7

if he has Autism you real should not push him my best friend has a child who has Autism. and he realy likes to play on the computer so try that let him do things at his own pace.


good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

ok colors and counting

Answer 9

to get along with others and his teacher.........and then, love him, love him and love him some more.....anything he learns academically will be a big plus.....