Breakout Session

Neurodiversity in Young Children: Supporting the Development of Neurodivergent Children

Dr. Lynne Clure
Breakout Session F
Wed, Jun 17, 2026 | 10:20 - 11:20am CDT

Session overview

Track:

Early Childhood Services

Audience level: 

Foundational

Intended audience:

Anyone who interacts directly with young children and/or their families, Anyone who works with young children in early childhood education, Childcare providers, Early childhood educators, Early Head Start personnel, EDN providers, Family support workers, Foster care support workers, Foster parents, Guardians ad Litem, Head Start personnel, Home visitors, Parents/caregivers, School representatives

Session materials: 

This session does not have any session materials currently.

Session Description

This session will describe various types of neurodivergence observed in young children, including autism, ADHD, and other developmental differences, as well as key differences between them. We will briefly discuss neurotypical development, traits of neurodiversity that are most often observed in young children, and misconceptions about early traits and diagnosis. An overview of the assessment process to accurately diagnose young children and the importance of accurate early identification will be discussed. Finally, we will discuss ways to support neurodivergent children, the benefits of various interventions, and the importance of collaboration between systems of care to promote development in this population.

Learning objectives

  1. Name at least one type of neurodiversity observed in young children.
  2. Describe at least two ways to support the development of neurodivergent children.
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