Our senses. They provide us with constant input about the world around us. For a child with Sensory Processing Disorder, however, the message between the brain and the body doesn’t work quite the same as the rest of the population. Thankfully, there are some easy changes you can make to help your sensory-sensitive children…
Behavior
Dear Preschool Teacher…I have Autism
Dear Preschool Teacher, I am really nervous about coming to see you. You see, I don’t like change. But Daddy says that I need to go to school so I can learn. I have Autism Spectrum Disorder. Some people call it ASD, some people call it just Autism. But the important part is the word “spectrum.” …
Classroom Spill Station
“OOPS!” Probably the most common phrase uttered by every preschooler, it can induce sweaty palms, racing heart, and rising blood pressure. But it doesn’t need to be this way. Mistakes happen. That’s just part of life. The most important lesson any person can have is how to clean up a mistake that they have made. Taking…
Understanding Children with Sensory Processing Disorder – Tips for Preschool Teachers
Dear Preschool Teacher, I am so excited for my first day of preschool! I can’t wait to make friends, to play with toys, and learn new things – I feel like a big kid now. But I’m also really scared. Because, well, I’m different. And I’m scared you won’t understand me. I have Sensory Processing…
How to Share Concerns with Parents
Concerns about a child’s development are an inevitable part of teaching. As teachers care for their students and only want the best for them, this is natural. Sharing those concerns with parents, however, can be an intimidating, yet vital, conversation to have. First things First: Acclimate At the beginning of the year, it is so…
Selfish Preschoolers
Help!! My preschoolers are so selfish. They’re always snatching, grabbing, and they never seem to listen when other people are talking. Is this normal? Let’s take a closer look… Egocentrism – What is it? The stages of development are extremely necessary to consider when teaching preschool-aged children. Egocentrism refers to the child’s inability to see a…
Tips for Better Behavior
Behavior can be tricky in a preschool setting. When children come to preschool, they are learning more than just letters and numbers. They’re setting the foundation for behavioral skills that are important for success in a classroom setting. They are just starting to learn how to stand in line, share a popular toy, and in…
How to Teach Problem Solving
Teachers hear it constantly. Parents hear it every day. “I’m thirsty.” “He took my toy.” “I have to go to the bathroom.” “My pencil’s broken.” “I can’t find my socks.” “She won’t play with me.” Children constantly state their problems. From an early age, they are wired to notice things around them. It is SO tempting…
The 10-Second Shoe Solution
The preschoolers are all lined up on their little footprints ready to go outside for recess when we notice that one little girl with backwards shoes. “Sara,” I say, “Your shoes are on backwards.” Sara responds, “Which one is wrong?” Seriously, though, this is the story of my life. We spend 30 minutes putting on…
Calm Down Bottles
One of the most important things that we can teach our preschoolers is how to self-regulate when they get too excited, anxious, or overly stimulated. A strategy that works well to help preschoolers regulate their emotions is to provide a quiet corner or nook that is stocked with “Calm Down” bottles. Here are 4 of our students’…