regular pre-school | Autism PDD

We are trying a regular 2 day private preschool for my ds (2.5). It is a mixed bag right now. This is his third day and he cries hysterically when dropped off and takes a long time to calm down. I feel so bad but the teachers tell me that he does calm down eventually and to give it time. I'm glad they are working with him but I don't see much improvement. He is also having problems during transitions. He is too young for a public special needs preschool and needs to be around other children now for his speech and socialization. Should I pull him? Do you think it is too stressful for him? He might get kicked out anyway. Has this happened to anyone?

Thanks, Donna

Alex (2.5) ASD, Becca (4.5)NT, Hannah (7) NT

I would get him a home program first than do preschool with a shodow aide.
Schools place demands on kids and if yr child does not have the skills it can
be tough. My son had a home based ABA program to gain language and
play skills before he went to a typical preschool with a shadow aide. He
learned so much in that first year of the home program. My son had to
taught how to learn before he could attend preschool.I would stick it out for now since it has only been a couple of days. My son started public preschool at 3 and I had to stay with him at first. I lasted quite a while but he adjusted. Two days a week with you there should be OK. You could call the local school district and see if they will send someone over to work with him and the staff. He should be getting early intervention from the state until he is three anyway. See if he can get that early intervention delivered at the preschool.

I've gone through periods of difficult drop-offs with both my kids, so I know it's miserable. I'd give it more time before considering pulling your son -- after all, this placement is important for his development.

Let him have shorter days to begin with. Try a visual schedule or social story to help him know what to expect, ideally with pictures of pre-school. Here's a link with two relevant social stories for toddlers (other samples can be found under the topic "sample social stories" here on our forum):

http://www.journal.naeyc.org/btj/200509/BriodyBTJ905.pdf - 2 stories for toddler transitions (drop-off at daycare, starting the day at preschool)

One thing that helped my autistic son make the transition to preschool each morning was having him draw a picture beforehand. He was excited to show it to the teacher, and that helped him start his day.

Good luck with everything.

I wanted to put my dd into preschool when she was 3 but didn't because I knew she'd get kicked out. Instead I took her to Sunday School and to library story time so she could get used to being in groups of kids. Now she's in a morning preschool program, she was ready for it and she's doing well. My other dd (2.5 years old, NT) is not ready to leave home for preschool yet. I hope by next fall she'll be ready. I think each child whether ASD or NT is different, it's not so bad to have them start preschool when they are older. If that is the situation you end up facing, don't feel bad about it.
swankyankee39330.4988310185I'm sure if you look around you'll see other kids his age crying too as they go in in the mornings. He will prob find the transition harder than them throughout the year. It's pretty standard for asd kids to have problems with transitions like that, it's not nec cos of the pre-school. As he get's older it will get easier. It's how he's getting on when you are not around that counts. If he's getting learning experiences or if it's going over his head. I find it's good to have a chart of specific goals in place so the staff know what they are aiming for. Good LUCK

I tried preschool for my son, started when he was 3. Only occasionally would he "go with the program" but most of the time he spent trying to move tables and chairs around or rattling the teachers supply cabinet. I gave him 6 months to see if he would become more comfortable with the routine there and it never happened. I sort of regretted not pulling him right away but hindsight is always 20/20.

I think its a personal decision and or one that should be decided between you and his preschool teacher.

Ask yourself this though,

Is he comfortable in the current situation??

is He interacting with the other children in an appropriate manner??

would he benefit from more one on one attention????

does she ( the teacher) have the time and resources (people) to work with him in targeted areas??