How is it best to transition from summer break back to school with an autistic child?
July 11, 2016
July 11, 2016
Question:
My eight-year old with ASD will be returning to school soon. How can I prepare him for the transition to a more structured schedule after a relaxed summer?
It is important to prepare your child in advance. The better prepared he or she is, the easier the transition. Here are some helpful tips for comfortably easing your child back into the school routine.
When getting ready to say goodbye to summer, there are several strategies you may try to reduce the impact of a tough transition. In the weeks leading up to school, ask your child’s special education teacher or team member to help you organize one or two trips to the school while the classrooms and hallways are still empty. Most teachers are working in their classrooms before school starts, so your child’s brief visit to ease the transition shouldn’t be a problem.
This time could also be a good opportunity for your child to meet the general education teacher and to see the classroom. This interaction may be easier to facilitate outside of the traditional “meet the teacher” hustle and bustle.
If you work with a behavior analyst who knows your child well, the analyst may help you create a list of effective strategies for communicating with and teaching your child. These should be strategies that can be easily implemented by others who don’t have as much training as your child’s special education team. This list can be given to any special teachers, your child’s bus driver and regular classroom teachers.
Some parents make a point of talking with their child’s class about learning differences or Autism. Or, some families choose to let the child’s teacher talk to the class. There are several ways to approach this. The school counselor can be a great resource for navigating the process with you. Also, most school districts have a special education parent group. This can provide invaluable support for all things related to school.
The following is based on several articles from Autism Speaks that you might also find helpful:
Here are some ways to help prepare your child for the transition.
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