Back To School 2023

It is time to start the transition back to school! This time of year can be stressful for kids and caretakers, but we have some tips to help everything go smooth(er). Back to school jitters are a real thing kids experience. Talk to your child and let them know it is okay to feel that way. Communication is key. This includes communicating with the teachers. Creating a communication log to go back and forth between home and school can help keep the communication open. This is also a perfect time to review your child’s IEP if they have one. Reviewing the IEP is important to make sure everything is still relevant, note the date it expires, and add conditions if needed (Back-To-School Tips for Parents of Children with Special Needs | Reading Rockets, n.d.) 

There are things you can do at home to help with crazy school mornings. Prepare the outfits the night before. Sometimes clothing can be a trigger for kids with sensory issues. Getting them ready the night before can reduce the time and possible tantrums during the morning. Having your child help pick out their clothes can boost their confidence as well. This same concept can be used when preparing their lunch if they aren’t eating at school. Most people have their safe foods they like to eat, and it helps them feel comfortable. The same goes for children with ASD. We want to set them up for success going into the new school year, now might not be the time to switch up their lunches. 

The last tip would be to establish a routine. Most of our kids thrive on the predictability of having a routine. This means having the same bedtime during the week, waking up at the same time, and having a bath time routine that they can predict. Routines are a way to reduce behaviors as well. It is important to remember that the children have just spent three months at home with their family. Now they must be away from them for 8 hours a day. It is a big change for them. They will have behaviors. Remember to pause, take a breath, and remember a lot is changing for them right now. Be patient with them and yourself! Good luck this school year!

 

References:

Back-to-School Tips for Parents of Children with Special Needs | Reading Rockets. (n.d.). Www.readingrockets.org. Retrieved August 13, 2023, from https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/special-education/articles/back-school-tips-parents-children-special-needs