10 Teaching Tools for Preschool and Kindergarten Age Kids with Autism
Introduction
At ThinkPsych, we often have teachers ask us for recommendations for resources for their classroom. Below is a list of our top recommendations for resources to help support ABA instruction in either a preschool or kindergarten classroom. While some of these materials will be beneficial for older kids, they will be invaluable in a classroom with younger children.
ThinkPsych First Nouns Picture Cards
This set of flash cards is specially designed to teach kids ages 3 and up their very first nouns. Each of the pictures is on a durable and thick flashcard so they don’t get destroyed with repeated use. There are also three copies of each picture so that young children can learn from multiple examples. You can buy these noun picture cards right on our website.
Go-Together Flash Cards
These cards are perfect for teaching kids to associate objects that “go together”. For example, you can present a child with a picture of a toothbrush and they have to select a picture of toothpaste from an array.
Teach My Toddler Kit
We love this kit! It comes with materials to teach kids the alphabet, colors, numbers, and shapes. It includes a step-by-step teaching guide to help you use this kit effectively.
Mr Potato Head
This timeless classic has been used in preschool and kindergarten classrooms for years! It is a great tool for improving the fine motor coordination of young children. It also teaches children to recognize the parts of a face such as ears, eyes, mouth, and nose.
Play-Doh
This is a classic toy! Many children with autism enjoy the sensory feel of Play-Doh. Not only is it fun to manipulate, but it can also be useful to teach a variety of fine motor imitation skills (e.g., rolling a log, making a pancake, cutting out a shape).
Galaxy Slime
This gooey, colorful slime is perfect for sensory stimulation and stress relief! Many kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder love the feeling of slime. Can also be a great reinforcer.
ThinkPsych People Flash Cards
This set of 150 flash cards is perfect for teaching children new words about actions, bodies, and emotions. Like the noun cards, they are extra durable and guaranteed to last! There are two pictures for each word to ensure that students can generalize their learning to new situations. You can buy these in our store as well.
Melissa and Doug Mickey Mouse Puzzle
This chunky puzzle is perfect for kiddos just beginning to complete puzzles on their own. The large pieces are durable and difficult to lose. This will help teach children to match pictures. It also is fun and can become a reinforcer for many students!
Melissa and Doug Stacker Toy
This colorful stacker not only helps to improve fine motor coordination, but also can teacher children sizes and colors.
Melissa and Doug Shape Sorter
This simple toy is fantastic for teaching children about shapes and improving their fine motor skills.
Visual Schedule Kit
A visual schedule is invaluable to help students with autism learn their routines and to provide a sense of comfort and security. This kit includes 153 magnetic pictures that can be placed on any metallic surface (e.g., whiteboard, refrigerator, file cabinet).
