Summer break does a lot for helping our kids to take their days a beat slower, relax, and recharge their batteries. We too get a break from all the chaos that includes practices, homework, projects, and other strict schedules that seemingly rule our lives! As summer vacation leaves us, it’s time to start thinking about easing back into school routines. I have two teenage boys, my oldest is sixteen and has autism, and my youngest is 13 with no disabilities. Either way, getting back into school routines can be challenging whether your child has a disability or not! I’ve developed a system that works for both (with a few adaptable changes), but it certainly helps our family to ease back into school routines.
Kick Start School Routines Early
During our summer break, no one missed the alarm clock, strict schedules, homework, the list goes on and on. Rather than shock our children with the early morning, fast-paced day filled with expectation, ease your children into the changing routine by starting at least a week early. It’s likely you already know what time school starts or you have your child’s bus and practice schedules. Get ahead of the game by creating a visual schedule board. Changes or transitioning from one activity to the next can be stressful and difficult for kids with special needs or younger ones who are neurotypical. The website Do2Learn has fantastic free resources for creating visual schedule boards that work for your family.
Tip: Not all kids work well with setting times on schedules. Especially kids who have autism, having set times may cause them to experience bouts of anxiety if they perseverate over how much time is left before their next activity. In this case, having a visual schedule without times would do just as well. If time permits, try taking pictures of your child conducting each task. This way, you can customize a visual schedule board with actual pictures of your child doing them!
Re-Establish Sleep Rituals
Our boys sleep in during the summer – sometimes until about 11 am. They’re also going to bed later since there is no need to rise and shine at the crack of dawn! About a week before school starts, we start by getting them to bed an hour earlier each night (same goes for waking up in the morning) until we’re back on track with school night sleep habits and rituals. All kids have different bed times depending on their age and schedules. My boys are teens, so we do allow for a later bed time during the school year. The American Academy of Pediatrics stresses the importance of adequate sleep for children and teens needed for maximizing focus and executive function. Loss of sleep will create a myriad of issues, but how much sleep is enough for our kids? Here’s a sleep guidance chart that might help:
Review IEP’s, Behavior Plans and School Assessments
IEP (Individual Education Plan) season usually takes place towards the end or at the start of the school year. Be prepared by scheduling time in advance for you to review your child’s IEP/ Positive Behavior Support Plans, Sensory Diets, and test scores. Allowing yourself enough time for reviewing these documents will help with organizing and documenting any of your child’s learned skills over the summer. If any regression was noticed in existing skills or behavior, it’s important to have these things documented, updated and shared with the IEP team. If modifications were made to any of your child’s plans (behavior, sensory, etc.) over the summer, such as newly tried strategies or reward systems that are proving to be successful, you’ll want to share this information with your child’s new teachers and IEP team members. The same applies for behaviors that have increased or worsened over the summer. Please note that reviewing your child’s tests or state assessments will help to pinpoint specific areas in need of focus.
Create an “About Me” Book
Teachers love learning about their students, so don’t rely on the IEP alone to truly capture all there is to know about your child. Creating an “about me” book gives teachers the opportunity to learn about your child’s likes, dislikes, interests, do’s and don’ts, dietary needs, learning preferences and other information that may be helpful throughout the school year. Make it a fun family shared activity by getting your child involved in making his or her “About Me” book. Try using fun, comic-book programs like, Fotojet.com, Storyboardthat.com, or Canva. For kids who struggle with using a mouse, typing or other fine motor skills, let them choose what pictures they want to share or what kind of story they wish to tell! Here’s an “About Me” template you can use to introduce your young child to new teachers. I use a more mature version of this for Richie, since he is sixteen. I made this template sample editable, feel free to use it and adapt as you wish.
Tip: It would be especially nice for you as mom or dad to send new teachers a note about your looking forward to working with them. Let them know of your communication preferences and how you might be able to help support your child’s learning throughout the year. It would be a plus if you would let your child’s teacher know how you can help support him or her too (volunteering on school trips, making flyers, promoting fundraising events, etc.).
Stay One Step Ahead of Potential Challenges
If this is a year for big change like starting in a new school, try doing a mock run of what the school day might be like. A few days before school starts, take your child to school. Review the new driving route together. Many schools (especially middle schools) will allow kids to come to school prior to the first day for familiarizing themselves with the school campus and where to go for each class. However, for the purpose of easing your child’s anxiety without overwhelming them with crowded hallways, I suggest calling, befriending and asking the Principal if he or she will allow a visit to the school before all the other kids. This will allow your child to become familiar with what entrance they will use and how to locate their classes, locker (it would help to practice opening and closing locks when appropriate), gym, cafeteria, music room, etc. Hopefully, two separate visits to the new school (with and without crowded hallways) prior to the actual first day will help to decrease your child’s anxiety and fear now that they have a better idea about what to expect.
Have a Family Fun Back to School Celebration!
Don’t forget to set aside planning and getting serious about school for a moment to celebrate the start of all new things to come with some family fun! Ask your child how they would like to celebrate (I usually give my children choices – in case they ask to go somewhere that’s just not in the budget at the moment) and make it a day to remember. Starting anything new can be a stressful experience, so let’s try to focus on a school year of learning new things, making new friends, and hopeful possibilities! Each year our children make progress – no matter how big or small. Their learning gains are ours to celebrate.
I hope all of our children have a successful year both academically and socially!
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