I had no idea preschool would be this way | Autism PDD

I am so happy for him!!!!!!(and you)!!!!!!

Hello everyone. We live in Michigan. We moved here a year ago because my dh was relocated by his employer and now I'm glad we did because my ds is in a wonderful program. They did say something about bringing in another aide because one of the other classes had a low number of students but for all the field trips and stuff they encourage the parents to come if possible. I mentioned that Noah will have a swim class once a week, but I misspoke...it's more like "pool time" once a week, there is no swim instructor. Nevertheless, Noah will have a lot of fun. The teacher assured me that she's had a lot of experience with kids on the spectrum. I also thought it was nice that she said she would take pictures of Noah doing different projects if I brought in a disposable camera.

I think Noah will have a lot of fun with the music therapy (that's what they call it). They said a woman comes in and plays guitar for the kids and they have to follow directions to the music such as clap your hands, sit down, jump, and whatever else and when she stops playing guitar they have to stop along with her and wait patiently for her to start again and tell them what to do next. She brings in different instruments for the kids to try out....it sounds like a lot of fun and ds just loves music.

The program seems great now....I just hope it stays that way.

My son is going to be in a classroom with 11 other kids with a spec ed teacher and two aides. He will be in music therapy once a week, speech therapy twice a week, gym class once a week, swim class once a week, of course recess everyday, he will be going on field trips to places such as the zoo, learning sign language as well as using PECS,.... and the list goes on. He will even get to listen to music on the bus and his bus driver said that Noah can bring his favorite CD's to play on the bus. I guess I didn't expect all of this. My baby boy will get his school pictures taken on Sept. 1, and he will even be in the yearbook! The school bus driver gave him a tour of the bus while I met with the teacher then they came back in the classroom and played with legos together. Ds didn't want to leave! I broke a healthy sweat trying to get the trantruming kid in his car seat.

I'm just so happy for him. He is going to have a blast. It was funny though when the teacher said they would be introducing the alphabet, numbers, shapes.....I just thought to myself... Uhhhhhhhh...Noah may be teaching YOU about the alphabet and numbers....LOL. I swear the kid is reading words that I was learning to read in 1st grade. I remember screwing up the alphabet in kindergarten (you know the LMNOP part, to me it was all one letter) and ds knows if frontwards and back.

I guess I just didn't know what to expect from the ISD. Much, much better than I ever expected.

Wow! Very impressive indeed!!! We didn't get half that in our preschool!! What state is it that we're all moving too???? LOL

Good luck tomorrow Noah...have a GREAT first day at school!
~Lesley

Wow what a great preschool! What state?

Sounds like Noah's is going to have great time! Sounds like more fun than what I do at work all day

That is wonderful!! Your preschool sounds very similar to the one my son attends. They don't do field trips and my son doesn't ride the bus (I drive him), but they do many of the same things. They have water play in a big fountain-type area once a week, they have indoor gym play, outdoor playground play, a very low student-teacher ratio (my son has 8 kids in his class w/ one teacher and two full-time paraprofessionals), PECS, etc. Plus, they have loads and loads of support groups and lecture series including a grandparents support group, siblings support group, and fathers group. They also do a lot of extra activities for the kids like a school picnic at a local park, snow day, trick-or-treating at school, etc. We are so fortunate to have these wonderful preschools; I know they will make such a tremendous difference in our kids. Where are you located? I'm in So. Florida; we actually had school cancelled today and Friday because of Hurricane Katrina. I'm sure we'll be back in on Monday; the aftermath probably won't be bad since it's just a weak category 1 storm.

I wish you and Noah all the best on your new endeavor!!

Jen