Preschool

Ages Three Through Five

Preparing for the School Years

If your child was part of the Early Start Program, as they reach the age of three, they will be assessed for next steps and, if a need is still present, will transition from an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) to an Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Children new to the program will take an assessment for eligibility for SELPA’s preschool special education services (for children ages 3 to 5). The plan will follow them throughout their school

How SELPA Helps

Services provided to eligible preschoolers include language and speech services, individual and small group services, and extra adult support during their time in a preschool class.

Preschoolers may also qualify for occupational therapy, physical therapy, vision services, deaf/hard of hearing services, and other assistive programs like transportation or health and nursing services.

Common signs of disabilities in a child

It is important to keep in mind that children develop at different rates and in different ways. These differences may be related to temperament, personality, experiences, or health needs that affect their development. The following signs may be cause for concern in any child regardless of age.

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Hearing

Often has earaches and other ear, nose, or throat infections
Does not seem to acknowledge where sounds are coming from: either looks the wrong direction or doesn’t respond at all
Talks loudly or unusually as if they cannot hear their volume or pitch
Leans into sounds ear-first as if to hear better
Difficulty learning to speak

Seeing

Eyes don’t move together or move quickly/wander
Has a hard time seeing at night
Moves closer to objects to better see (TVs, books, etc.)
Often rubs eyes
Eyes are frequently crusty or runny while pupils are cloudy
Only uses one eye (closes the other or tilts head so one eye is turned away from what they are looking at)

Moving

Arms or legs seem stiff
Moves away when hugged
Coordination is unusually low
Difficulty coloring or tracing
Difficulty hitting age-related movement milestones
- Does not hold their head up in their first six months
- Isn’t crawling in their first year
- Does not walk alone or has difficulty holding scribbling by age two
- Has difficulty turning pages in a book by age three
- Has difficulty balancing on one foot for a short time by age four
- Does not skip or hop on one foot by age five
- Has difficulty drawing simple shapes by age five

Behavior

Avoids eye contact
Excessive repetition of movement or other action
Difficult to comfort and easily frustrated
Obsessive behaviors/difficulty adapting
Acts unusually aggressive
Difficulty hitting age-related behavior milestones
- Does not smile or interact with others in their first year
- Does not play games by age one
- Does not imitate parent or caregiver doing everyday tasks such as brushing dishes or washing hands
- Does not play with others as a toddler (age 3)

Communication

Has a hard time expressing themselves
Difficulty hitting age-related communication milestones such as:

Making noises to communicate and using simple words in their first year
Is not babbling to get attention by six months
Does not point at wants in their second year
Cannot follow simple directions by age three
Does not talk in understandable ways by their fourth year

Cognitive

Doesn’t remember things often
Often can’t focus
Difficulty hitting age-related communication milestones such as:

In their second year, does not point to body parts when asked such questions such as “Where is your nose?”
Doesn’t like or participate in make-believe by their third year
Cannot or chooses not to answer simple questions by their fourth year