The classification of special children refers to the classification of children with mental and physical disabilities from different angles according to certain purposes and methods. The main purpose is to provide special education and related services that meet their physical and mental characteristics. According to the nature of children's abnormal conditions, such as deafness, blindness and mental retardation; Some abnormal situations can be further classified, such as hearing impairment can be divided into hard of hearing and deafness. It can be divided from the perspective of medicine and education. For example, children with mental retardation can be divided into "educatable", "trainable" and "in need of supervision".

Types of preschool special children: visual disability, hearing disability, speech disability, physical disability, intellectual disability, mental disability, multiple disability and other disabilities.

Special children in China are mainly educated in special schools. For example, hearing-impaired children go to schools for the deaf and blind children go to schools for the blind. This method has advantages and disadvantages. The concentration of teachers and facilities in special schools is not conducive to the integration of special children into society. Special schools are places where disabled children are concentrated, and it is difficult for each child to adapt to the external environment quickly after completing their studies.