Many children don’t get a lot of social interaction with other kids before they start kindergarten. This is often true for those with disabilities, developmental disorders and medical conditions. These children especially need positive experiences and individual attention during their first years of school. A therapeutic preschool is a supportive setting for both children with medical conditions and disabilities and those without. It’s a place where they can receive individualized care while gaining valuable social experiences.
This article describes seven ways supportive peer interactions benefit children in therapeutic preschool settings.
How does peer support benefit children in therapeutic preschool settings?
Socializing with a diverse group of peers at a young age helps children learn values and skills that will serve them through elementary school and beyond. They’ll learn to treat others with kindness and acceptance regardless of their differences. They’ll also learn that they deserve to feel like they belong. Positive interactions will help children develop self-esteem and emotional resilience. Children with disabilities and communication barriers will learn skills to help them be more autonomous at school. At Ability KC, our therapeutic preschool has a 1:4 provider-to-student ratio, so help is never far away.
7 benefits of peer support in a therapeutic preschool setting
In a therapeutic preschool setting, teachers and staff are more available and better equipped to help children thrive. They have experience working with children who have a wide range of needs and abilities. They know how to intervene when a child is having behavioral problems, but they often provide support as children learn to work together. Some of the greatest social lessons children will learn are a result of positive peer interactions.
Peer interactions during the school day help our therapeutic preschool students in the following ways:
- Kindness — Getting used to independence at school is a challenge for a lot of kids. It’s easy to get intimidated, anxious or shy around so many new faces. In our therapeutic preschool, we teach kids what kindness looks like and why it’s an important value. We also make sure teachers and staff are present to encourage kindness during group activities, snack time and playtime.
- Acceptance and belonging — People have a natural desire to be part of an in-group, that is, accepted. That can be both a positive and a negative thing. Many children in our preschool have unique conditions and disabilities that make them different inside and out. These children and our students without disabilities learn how to respect each other so nobody is left out.
- Nonjudgment — Children’s social and emotional well-being can suffer when they start to judge themselves and each other. In a therapeutic preschool, they’ll learn that some behaviors are helpful and some are not helpful. They’ll learn that it’s OK to have bad days. Ultimately, they’ll develop emotional resilience and great social skills by learning to avoid harsh judgments.
- Cooperation and turn-taking — These are the building blocks of positive peer relationships. Our preschool students have a lot of support from teachers and staff. They also learn to navigate play and learning activities together.
- Communication — Everyone has different skills and different needs when it comes to communication. We help children recognize when they should interject and work through their unique communication challenges.
- Emotional regulation — School is full of ups and downs for every child. We help them recognize when they’re getting overwhelmed and learn what they can do to take care of themselves when they’re feeling mad, sad, afraid or excited.
- Confidence self-esteem — Every child needs to learn that they have intrinsic value, no matter what. Understanding that they deserve to feel safe and seen will help them protect themselves and get their needs met in all kinds of situations. Children also need to believe in their own ability to take on challenges and take pride in a job well done.
Learn more about the Mary Shaw Branton Therapeutic Preschool at Ability KC
A therapeutic preschool offers children a rare opportunity to receive the individual support they need in a safe and social school environment. It blends medical and therapeutic care with education for one seamless and holistic experience.
The Mary Shaw Branton Therapeutic Preschool at Ability KC provides age-appropriate services for children from 1 to 5 years old. We’re state licensed and nationally accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Ability KC is a designated Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility (CORF). We also have Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation.
Does this sound like the right environment for your child? Learn more about our therapeutic preschool and other seasonal programming for children of all ages.
Contact our team today for information about enrollment. We’re excited to welcome your child and your family to our school community.