Is your child ready for school? Many parents and students feel anxious about the changes a new school year brings.
Janice McNeill, MS, BCBA, LABA, Director of Hockomock Area Services at Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI), a company of behavioral clinicians specializing in the care of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) throughout Central Massachusetts, offers tips to better prepare families for some of the challenges and obstacles faced at the start of a new school year.
Visit the school, classroom, and or teacher to help prepare your child for the school year. During your visit, encourage your child to sit in the chairs, at their desk or on the rug, whichever is appropriate for their level of schooling. Take pictures of your child in their classroom, with their teacher, on the bus, with the bus driver, and in any other school or transition settings. You can use these pictures informally or you may choose to develop a social story about their school day.
Share pertinent details about your child with the school team. Information about your child’s preferences (both their likes and dislikes); your goals for your child during the coming days and school year; as well as any changes in allergies, medications, behavior, or learning needs should be shared with your child’s school team. This is particularly important if your child is new to school, attending a school new to them, or has had changes in any of the above information. It is often beneficial to communicate by email since this provides a written record for your reference.
Set up a visual schedule. Similar to a “chore chart”, outlining a child’s daily responsibilities can help them follow a routine and gain independence at home and at school. If your child can brush their teeth, make their bed, and get themselves dressed for school, but does not do so without prompting from you to move from one activity to the other, the use of a visual schedule may help to increase their independence, and increase the time you have available for the morning routines and activities you need to complete.
Calendars are key. Calendars help us all schedule our commitments and plan our time, but they can also help to increase your child’s awareness of when certain activities will take place or when activities will be available. For example, if your child struggles with understanding when they can go swimming, show them a calendar with a swimming sticker on swim day (e.g. Saturday). Make a point of marking an “x” through each day before bedtime to mark the passage of time which may help them learn when they can go swimming and help increase their ability to wait.
Get more rest. Studies show in general that those of us living in the U.S. do not sleep enough, which can be a particular area of difficulty for student and parents. Setting a specific time for bed (or at least quiet time in their room until sleep occurs) and rising at the same time each morning can help the transition to increased sleep.
Set up and practice morning and evening routines. A sleep inducing bedtime routine could include listening to relaxing music, using a night light instead of leaving a light on, and enjoying a warm drink. Consider foods, eaten two hours or so before bedtime, that can induce sleepiness such as bananas, almonds, milk, cereal, oatmeal, and cherries (taking care to avoid allergens).
“Above all, consider individual strengths and struggles – yours and your child’s,” said McNeill. “Making a plan for decreasing the areas of struggle can help increase your child’s skills and your resourcefulness. Using tools such as calendars and schedules, and creating and sticking to routines will significantly help with the transition to a new school year.”
About Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI)
Behavioral Concepts (BCI) provides Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to children with autism and their families in central Massachusetts. BCI identifies and facilitates effective personalized instruction that allows children to discover more, learn more, and be more – increasing their independence and enhancing their quality of life at home, in school, and in the community. As a Massachusetts Department of Public Health approved provider of specialty ABA services for early intervention, BCI provides center, home-based, and after-school services through private and public health insurance. The organization was founded in 2002 by Dr. Jeffrey R. Robinson. Further information on BCI is available at http://bciaba.com.
Follow Us!