Whether your child is first entering the school system,
transitioning to a new school, or returning to familiar environment, there can
be a lot of anxiety for both the child and caregiver. Here’s my list for
making the school year start off right, and stay that way!
For Children:
- - Start their routines a week or two in advance –
if you know your child needs to wake up at 6 to get ready for school, start
waking them at 6 in advance! Stick with consistent bedtimes and bedtime
hygiene.
- - Just like
waking and rising, a consistent routine for meals, snacks, leisure, and bathing
can also go a long way towards success
- - If your
child uses a visual schedule, do not wait for day 1 to start using it. Have
them be familiar with the schedule and the protocol for using it
- -
If you have social stories for your child, make
sure they are familiar with the stories
- -
Make sure they are familiar with important
locations – walk them to the bus stop and explain that this is where they will
be picked up and dropped off
- -
If they don’t already, let your child pick out their
own outfits
- -
Let them pick what they want for lunch/snack
- -
Let your child navigate the school supply aisle,
and pick what they want
- -
Provide as much choice as possible in the home
life and in getting ready for the school year/day. So much of our children’s
days are dictated by adults.
- -
Once school begins, make sure you are
communicating positively and talking about their day.
- -
Make sure their backpack is not too heavy or cumbersome
– you want them to have everything they need, but if they can’t physically
manage it, then it’s too much stuff
- -
Allow them to voice their anxieties and concerns
over the new school year – talking about this early on can help avoid potential
barriers down the road
- -
Let them take part in the IEP process – There are
many ways to do this. Their contribution doesn’t always need to be vocal – have
them make a PowerPoint about what they’d like to learn, their strengths, things
they can work on, and things they like to do.
For Parents:
- -
Check your child’s backpack daily
- -
Have a school/home communication log: Even just
a few sentences about successes and barriers both at home and at school can
help with trouble-shooting and playing to strengths down the road
- -
Keep a binder with all of your child’s most up
to date information. This may include a list of allergies, particular strengths,
potential barriers, preferred foods/items/activities, IEP, and other
supplemental information. Also, make sure that your contact information can be
easily accessed if need be, and that there is emergency contact information as
well.
- -
If your child takes medication, be sure to be in
contact with the school nurse to discuss administration of the medication
- -
If your child uses augmentative and assistive communication,
make a point to teachers that they need to have it at all times. Additionally, make sure that you as the parent are
doing the same. These are your child’s words and voice!
- -
Be in contact with teachers early
- -
Tour the building with your child. Have them
meet their teachers, show them key locations such as their classroom and
bathroom, show them where the bus will pick them up, etc.
- -
Look over the IEP and any other materials (BIP, 504
plan, sensory diet, etc). Make sure you
feel comfortable with it and competent about what it means. If you have
questions – ask them!
- -
If it seems necessary, write out a social story
about waking up, getting ready, going to school, and expectations
- -
Make sure their backpack is stocked appropriately.
This may include extra changes of clothing, extra snacks/drink, EPI-Pen, etc.
This list is not exhaustive, there
are a lot of other ways to help your child prepare. You know your child best!
Think about what you can do to make them the most successful member of their
learning community they can be. Most of all, make school fun!
Good luck!
[If you have additional questions
or concerns, please feel free to contact me.]
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