Preschoolers love to play, and it just so happens that through play, young children learn! Playing helps children learn about the world around them, experiment with cause and effect, hone their imaginations, and develop their sensory systems. My preschoolers with autism are no different! They love to play.
I work in a preschool class for children with autism spectrum disorders.
My room is located on an isolated site with 5 classes that only serve children with special needs. Because we are a preschool site, we do not receive Title I or ADA funding, because those programs do not assist preschools. However, because we are a special education site, we do not receive the funding that other preschool programs receive, such as HeadStart. This means that any "extras" we need are not likely to be purchased by the school district.
Play is an important part of any preschooler's day and my students are no different. Play for them is just a little bit harder and for me, requires a little more ingenuity when it comes to providing appropriate play materials.
My Project
I am requesting a water table and lid for my preschoolers. They LOVE to play in the water. Unfortunately, the only chance they have to do that right now is while they are washing their hands! With this new water table my preschoolers will have an appropriate place to splash around and experiment with how the water feels as it runs through their fingers. I will provide my students with funnels, scoops, plastic floating toys, and boats that they can have fun with when they aren't just splashing around. What's even better is that this water table can double as any kind of sensory table and can be filled with beans, rice, corn, or even fake spider webs! This table will allow my students to explore their senses throughout the entire school year! And the lid will keep the sensory table clean when it is not in use.
Can you help my preschoolers with autism have fun while doing what all preschoolers should be doing - playing!
This sensory table will give my students some important sensory input while also providing them with an opportunity for socialization with their peers because I just know that all of them will be crowded around it!
Thank you for taking the time to consider this project.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Ramsay and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
