Kindergarten Readiness: The Impact of Sensory Integration on Preschool Children's Readiness for the Transition to Kindergarten

<p>The goal of this quantitative, descriptive pilot study was to identify the frequency of sensory processing disorders (SPD) in preschool students who are preparing for the transition into kindergarten. The research also explored the relationship between preschool teachers' perspectives of challenging classroom behavior and parents' reports of sensory processing in the home. Researchers distributed the Sensory Processing Measure for Preschoolers (SPM-P) assessment to parents and a behavioral questionnaire to teachers in three northern California preschools. Thirty-two SPM-P assessments were distributed to parents and 15 (47%) were accurately completed and returned. Of this sample, 2 (13%) student scores on the SPM-P reflected SPD. The SPM-P assessments not returned by parents were categorized as non- SPD students. Based on this assumption, 6.2% of the children within the greater population of 32 demonstrated sensory processing disorder. Results of the behavioral questionnaire found that teachers identified 3 or more maladaptive classroom behaviors for students who met the criteria for SPD. The research suggests that there may be a relationship between maladaptive classroom behavior and a child’s ability to process sensory information. Thus, further education on sensory processing and environmental adaptations that encourage positive participation in school may benefit teachers, parents, and children.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

Level thesis:degree_level

Master's Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Occupational Therapy

Year dc:date.available

2013

Authors dc:creator

• Boyd, Laura Alexandria
• Sobieraj, Shannon Logan

Contributors dc:contributor

• Stacy Frauwirth, MS, OTR/L

• Sensory Integration
• Sensory Defensive
• Sensory Processing
• PreSchool
• Kindergarten
• Occupational Therapy

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholar.dominican.edu/masters-theses/80

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.dominican.edu:masters-theses-1070