The Dos and Don'ts of Treating Learning Disabilities

If your pre-school aged son or daughter has recently been diagnosed with autism, he or she is not alone. Current estimates are that about one in sixty-eight children in The United States have some degree of autism and children as young as two years of age can be diagnosed. If your child was lucky enough to be diagnosed early, the educational choices that you make for them are even more important than they would otherwise be. Fortunately, Montessori schools have a unique approach to early childhood education that frequently has a positive impact on the way that your child learns, both now and in the future.

#1-The Class Size

One of the most common features associated with any type of autism is often the difficulty in processing and using appropriate social skills. Mimicry, which is an important part of how any child learns, is thought to be even more so with an autistic child. As a result, the multi-age groups in the classroom and child-led learning are very helpful aspects of learning for many autistic children,. Your little one will have more children to observe and learn from.

Montessori schools do not focus on grouping all three-years olds in one class and all four-year olds in another. In fact the typical classroom is likely to have children as young as three or as old as six in the same class. As a result, your little one will be interacting with kids of varying abilities, providing unique abilities to work with and learn from one another. Individual skill sets will be shared more often, and doing so may be easier for your child due to the flexibility offered in the Montessori classroom.

#2-The Lack Of Scheduling For Centers

In a typical pre-school setting, it is not unusual for kids to have a very regimented daily schedule. Unfortunately, you are likely to find that your child does not necessarily benefit from only being allowed to cut and paste every day from 3:00-3:30. Many autistic children need to assess the situation, ponder what they will do and then complete the task.

A Montessori school, with free play and child-led classroom experiences, provides the extra time that students may need to complete a task. Although the times for meals and lunchtimes rarely vary, the tasks and friends that your child benefits from on a daily basis are subject to their own preferences. Your child's future and their ability to learn and work with others can be stimulated during the early years and early intervention for autistic children is crucial. A Montessori school can often meet their needs more effectively during these important years.

In conclusion, an autism diagnosis can seem overwhelming, but it is important to note that autism does not necessarily impact your child's ability to learn. It is a developmental disorder that makes communication and learning more challenging. However, with pro-active parenting and an appropriate educational plan in place, many autistic children are thriving, despite their disability.

For more information, contact schools like Montessori Of Woodridge.