The Child’s Play group is a preschool program for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The program has a fee and is recognized as a service claimable through the Helping Children With Autism funds. It runs on Monday and Tuesdays during school terms, and parents drop off their kids at 9am and return to collect them at 11am.
The group is run by an Early Childhood Teacher (who has additional training in Autism Special Education) and a trained Child Care Assistant.
Features of the Child’s Play group include:
- High staff to child ratio (normally the group consists of four to five children and two staff members) which provides more opportunities for 1:1 interactions. Staff members have training and experience in working with children with autism;
- Regular routines as well as activities to help the children learn to cope with change and how to follow instructions. After free play, there is time for ‘Table Work’, Group Time and morning tea;
- Helps the children develop social skills including tolerating others, sharing and turn taking.
- Provides activities that will meet the children’s sensory needs.
- Encourages communication and fun engagement with adults and peers
- Prepares the children for attending mainstream early childhood settings. We recommend all families consider a mainstream early childhood placement for their child, in addition to attending the Child’s Play group.
- Follow a visual learning style (using visual supports).
- Follows the children’s interests and individual learning styles.
The two short, consecutive days help children settle quickly and understand routines and expectations, which contributes to more learning opportunities. Child’s Play is a one year program.
