Tips for Back to School
by FAU CARD | Tuesday, Aug 01, 2023
The beginning of a new school year is right around the corner. Transitioning from the lazy days of summer back into the hustle and bustle of the school year can be challenging for many families. Now is the time to start thinking about how you, as a parent or caregiver, can make the transition from summer vacation back to school, as smooth as possible, below are some tips to help you get started.
1. Prime your child for the change. Simply put, start talking with your child about the start of the school year. Reminding them that they may have to start going to bed and waking up earlier, they will have to be out the door by a certain time to get to school on time, and any other disruptions to their current schedule. Creating a visual checklist, video model or social story could be very helpful strategies to implement.
2. Establish and practice a school routine early. We all benefit from practicing new skills and routines. Going to bed, waking up, and getting ready for school are no different. Consider creating a back to school schedule for your child at least one week before the start of school and practice! This will help both you and your child prepare for the transition and will also give you useful information on where you may need to adjust time.
3. Visit your child’s school before the first day of school. Many, if not all schools will have a meet the teacher event at the school the week before the start of classes. These types of events may be particularly overwhelming for a child on the Autism spectrum. Consider contacting your school and requesting a visit at a different time, perhaps the day following the event. The reasons you may want to request a visit following the meet the teacher event is simple, that week before the start of school is quite busy for school staff, many teachers do not have their classrooms set up and school facilities staff are making last minute repairs, especially at the beginning of the week. The later you go in that week before the start of school the more likely you will get a picture of what your child’s class will look like on that crucial first day.
4. Involve your child in ‘back to school’ preparation. From back to school shopping, to selecting a first day of school outfit, to packing lunch, allowing your child to make choices along the way will give them a sense of ownership and connection to the new school year before it has even started. In doing this you are also supporting self- determination and self- advocacy!
5. Stay calm. The start of the school year can be stressful for us all. Try to maintain a calm reaction to obstacles as they arise. Use the resources you have available (family, community, etc..) for support. Remember this too shall pass.