Preschool Child Plan

For preschoolers with FASD, the plan should be simple, repetitive, highly visual, and caregiver-led. The biggest goal is to build regulation and predictability first, then teach small skills in tiny steps. Our family discovered that by letting a child help finish a task there was less frustration and then we simply added steps backwards (Look up back chaining)

Preschool Child Plan

Area	What to do	Why it helps
Routines	Keep the same daily rhythm for waking, meals, play, cleanup, and bedtime	Predictability lowers stress and improves cooperation
Environment	Reduce clutter, noise, and extra stimulation; define clear play and work areas	Helps the child know what to do and reduces overload
Communication	Use short sentences, one instruction at a time, and concrete words	Children with FASD often process language more slowly and literally
Transitions	Give warnings, use timers, and preview what comes next	Transitions are often a major trigger for distress
Regulation	Use movement, sensory tools, calming touch if welcome, and quiet breaks	Supports body regulation before behavior breaks down
Learning	Teach through play, repetition, modeling, and hands-on practice	Preschoolers learn best through doing, not long explanations
Caregiver coaching	Help adults respond consistently, calmly, and with the child’s developmental age in mind	Adult consistency is one of the strongest supports

What to focus on by domain

Daily living

• Keep meals, snacks, sleep, and play on a very consistent schedule.
• Use picture schedules, songs, and visual cues.
• Limit choices to 2 options at a time.

Behavior and regulation

• Assume behavior is often a sign of overload, not defiance.
• Reduce triggers before correcting behavior.
• Use co-regulation first: calm voice, simple words, gentle presence, then teaching later.

Social development

• Practice turn-taking, waiting, and simple greetings in short playful moments.
• Script words for the child when needed, such as “my turn” or “help please.”
• Supervise closely during peer play because social judgment is often immature.

Parent/caregiver support

• Coach caregivers to use the same response patterns across settings.
• Encourage them to think in terms of the child’s developmental age, not just chronological age.
• Give hope, but keep expectations realistic and concrete.

Suggested weekly rhythm

• 2–3 short practice moments a day, each only a few minutes.
• One target skill per week, such as “clean up,” “wait,” or “gentle hands.”
• One visual support per routine, such as a picture card or timer.
• One caregiver strategy to practice consistently for the whole week.

Bottom line

For preschoolers, this is about building a safe, predictable, teachable world around the child. That combination gives the child the best chance to regulate, learn, and attach well.