WorksheetsUnderstanding Neurodivergent Children
Total questions: 55
Worksheet time: 28mins
What does the term "neurodivergent" refer to?
Children whose brains work differently, including those with autism, ADHD, and language processing differences.
Children who do not excel in academic settings.
Children who prefer physical activities over mental tasks.
Children who have difficulty learning due to environmental factors.
How do neurodivergent children often communicate their needs?
Through gestures, pictures, or devices instead of spoken words.
By writing detailed notes.
By shouting loudly to get attention.
By avoiding all forms of communication.
What is an important concept to remember about behavior in neurodivergent children?
Behavior is a form of communication.
Behavior is always intentional.
Behavior is unrelated to their needs.
Behavior should be ignored to avoid reinforcement.
What does "strong sensory reactions" mean for neurodivergent children?
Their brains may notice sounds, lights, textures, or movement more intensely.
They are unable to process sensory information.
They prefer sensory deprivation environments.
They react to sensory input in the same way as neurotypical children.
Which strategy helps neurodivergent children feel safe and included?
Predictability, such as using a visual schedule to ease transitions.
Ignoring their needs to encourage independence.
Forcing them to adapt to unpredictable environments.
Removing all sensory stimuli from their surroundings.
What is the purpose of sensory support for neurodivergent children?
To help them regulate their bodies.
To eliminate all sensory input.
To encourage them to ignore sensory stimuli.
To make them focus only on academic tasks.
How can educators respect different play styles in neurodivergent children?
By joining, narrating, and building connection during their play.
By stopping repetitive actions immediately.
By forcing them to play in a structured way.
By discouraging play altogether.
What is co-regulation in the context of neurodivergent children?
Helping children calm their bodies by being near a calm adult.
Forcing children to calm down on their own.
Ignoring their emotional needs to promote independence.
Using punishment to regulate their behavior.
What is the primary goal when working with neurodivergent children?
To make them act like everyone else
To create spaces where they can belong, learn, and be themselves
To teach them to suppress their emotions
To focus solely on academic achievements
What is an important factor in supporting the growth of neurodivergent children?
Meeting them with patience and curiosity
Encouraging them to conform to societal norms
Ignoring their unique needs
Focusing only on their academic performance
What might be the reason a child covers their ears and cries during clean-up?
They are tired from playing
The environment is noisy and rushed
They dislike cleaning up
They are seeking attention
In Scenario 2, why might a child line up cars and refuse to share?
They are trying to annoy others
They are expressing their need for order and control
They dislike playing with others
They are uninterested in toys
In Scenario 3, what might be the purpose of a child repeating the same phrase over and over during snack time?
They are trying to disrupt the class
They are communicating in their own way
They are bored during snack time
They are seeking attention from the teacher
What is a key approach to responding to a child’s repetitive behavior, as described in Scenario 3?
Stopping the behavior immediately
Ignoring the behavior completely
Responding without stopping the behavior
Asking the child to explain their actions
What phrase should be written on the board in Step 1 of Option 1?
Behavior is communication.
Communication is behavior.
Behavior is a choice.
Communication is key.
In Option 1, how should the behavior of a child hiding under a table be reframed?
Avoiding
Needs space to feel safe
Rude
Overwhelmed by change
What is the suggested reframe for a child refusing to share in Option 1?
Communicating or self-regulating
Protecting their play idea
Structured + soothing play
Overwhelmed by change
In Option 1, what behavior is reframed as 'Communicating or self-regulating'?
A child hides under a table
A child refuses to share
A child repeats phrases
A child runs away during transitions
What is the purpose of the Sensory Walk + Fix activity in Option 2?
To identify loud spots in the classroom
To teach students how to share
To encourage structured play
To practice communication skills
Which of the following is an example of a sensory challenge in a room?
Bright or flickering lights
Comfortable chairs
Minimal visual clutter
Pleasant smells
What is one way to make a room more sensory-friendly using existing resources?
Add more fluorescent lights
Move a shelf to create a quiet nook
Increase visual clutter on walls
Use loud, fast transitions
What is the purpose of creating a 2-inch reference card in the 'My Support Plan Card' activity?
To decorate the classroom
To take to placement as a reference tool
To use as a bookmark
To write down multiplication tables
Which of the following is a typical solution for reducing sensory challenges in a room?
Use natural light instead of fluorescents
Add more crowded areas
Increase visual clutter on walls
Use hard chairs
What is the first step suggested for helping a struggling child according to the card?
Offer a choice
Pause: Breathe once
Lower my voice
Suggest a quiet space or movement break
What does "reduce language" mean in the context of helping a struggling child?
Use complex sentences
Say 5 words or fewer
Speak louder
Avoid speaking altogether
What is the role of child care when working with neurodivergent children?
To change who they are
To support, include, and respond with understanding
To enforce strict rules
To ignore their needs
What might a child be feeling if they cover their ears and cry during clean-up because it’s loud and rushed?
Excited
Overwhelmed
Happy
Indifferent
What could an educator do to help a child who is overwhelmed during clean-up?
Ignore the child
Suggest a quiet space or movement break
Speak louder to get their attention
Force them to participate
Why might a child become upset when asked to 'share' or change how they are playing with lined-up cars?
They are tired and need a break.
They are expressing a preference for structured play.
They are upset due to hunger.
They are uninterested in playing with cars.
How could an educator join a child's play respectfully when they are lining up cars?
Insist the child shares the cars immediately.
Observe the child and ask if they can join the play.
Rearrange the cars to show a different way to play.
Ignore the child and focus on other activities.
How is repeating the same phrase during snack time a form of communication?
It shows the child is uninterested in eating.
It is a way for the child to express their needs or feelings.
It indicates the child is tired and needs rest.
It is a sign the child wants to play instead of eat.
How can an educator respond supportively to a child repeating the same phrase during snack time?
Ignore the repetition and continue with snack time.
Acknowledge the phrase and respond calmly to the child.
Ask the child to stop repeating the phrase.
Remove the child from the snack area.
What is one thing you can do to make a child care environment more welcoming for neurodivergent children?
Create a rigid schedule with no flexibility.
Provide sensory-friendly spaces and activities.
Avoid interacting with neurodivergent children.
Encourage all children to follow the same play style.
What does the term "neurodivergent" mean?
The brain works differently, leading to unique ways of communication and learning.
A condition that only affects physical abilities.
A term used to describe children who are always calm and predictable.
A type of illness that needs to be fixed.
What is the goal when working with neurodivergent children?
To fix their behavior to match societal expectations.
To understand, support, and include them.
To teach them to communicate only through words.
To make them more predictable and calm.
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of neurodivergent children?
Showing feelings through behavior more than words.
Communicating differently through gestures, pictures, or devices.
Always being calm and predictable.
Having strengths like focus, creativity, honesty, and passion.
What should educators notice while watching the video "Amazing Things Happen"?
How the video explains differences without using judgment.
How the video teaches children to behave like others.
How the video focuses on fixing neurodivergent children.
How the video emphasizes the need for strict rules.
What is a key phrase mentioned in the learning material that highlights the importance of understanding behavior in autistic children?
Behavior is communication.
Communication is key.
Misbehavior is stress.
Routines are safe.
Which of the following is a typical helpful answer about how autistic children experience the world?
The world can feel loud or too bright.
The world is always calm and predictable.
Communication is always straightforward.
Misbehavior is intentional.
What might 'misbehavior' in autistic children actually indicate, according to the learning material?
Stress or overwhelm.
Lack of discipline.
Intentional defiance.
Poor communication skills.
What activity is suggested for students to discuss how to support a child in different scenarios?
Group Chat.
One Low-Prep Main Activity.
Role-playing exercise.
Watching a video.
What is one strategy to support a child who covers their ears and cries during clean-up because it’s noisy and rushed?
Increase classroom volume
Lower classroom volume
Ignore the child’s behavior
Force the child to clean up immediately
Which of the following is an effective way to help a child transition during clean-up time?
Give a countdown (“2 minutes, then clean-up”)
Skip the countdown and clean up immediately
Use a loud voice to announce clean-up
Avoid giving any warnings before clean-up
What is a recommended strategy to support a child who lines up cars and doesn’t want to share?
Force the child to share immediately
Respect the play style
Take the cars away from the child
Ignore the child’s behavior
How can an educator join a child’s play instead of forcing change?
Narrate play instead of redirecting
Force the child to play differently
Ignore the child’s play style
Take away the toys to encourage sharing
What is a gentle way to encourage turn-taking in play?
Demand sharing on demand
Invite turn-taking gently
Force the child to share immediately
Ignore the child’s behavior
What is one strategy to respond to a child who repeats the same phrase over and over during snack time?
Respond to repetition, not meaning
Respond to meaning, not repetition
Ignore the behavior completely
Use a loud tone to stop the behavior
Which of the following is an expected strategy to support a child repeating phrases during snack time?
Model a complex sentence back
Offer visual or gesture-based choices
Use a strict tone to stop the behavior
Avoid interacting with the child
What tone should be used when responding to a child repeating phrases during snack time?
Warm and patient
Strict and loud
Neutral and indifferent
Cold and dismissive
What is one thing educators can do to make child care more welcoming for neurodivergent children?
Ignore their needs
Create a strict environment
Provide inclusive and supportive strategies
Avoid communication with them
What is the main focus of the five short videos mentioned in the learning material?
The experiences of children learning in traditional classrooms
The experiences of children who learn or experience the world differently
The experiences of teachers teaching children with disabilities
The experiences of children excelling in sports
List three strategies that seemed helpful across multiple videos.
Strategies for managing classroom behavior, promoting inclusivity, and encouraging peer collaboration.
Strategies for improving handwriting, teaching advanced math, and focusing on individual assessments.
Strategies for organizing group activities, teaching foreign languages, and using technology in lessons.
Strategies for creating art projects, teaching music, and focusing on physical education.
Why is it important to recognize that every child has strengths, even when they learn differently?
It helps teachers focus only on academic performance.
It ensures that children are treated equally without considering their individual needs.
It allows educators to support and nurture each child's unique abilities.
It discourages children from exploring their interests.
Imagine a child in the classroom asks: "Why is he doing that?" or "She doesn’t do it like us." Write a kind, inclusive response you could actually use.
Everyone learns and behaves differently, and that's okay.
They should try harder to be like everyone else.
We all have to follow the same rules, no exceptions.
It's not important to understand why they are different.
After watching these videos, what is one belief or understanding we hope you may have about supporting children who learn differently?
Every child can succeed with the right support.
Learning differences should be ignored.
All children learn at the same pace.
Support should only be given to those who struggle.
