Tips for Helping your Child with Autism Transition into the New School Year

Help your child get into the swing of the new school year with these tips.

It’s hard to believe, but summer vacation is more than halfway over. And while many students need a few weeks to get accustomed to a summer schedule, the same is true for the start of school after a summer full of different routines, environments and structure.
 
Children on the autism spectrum may need extra help and support transitioning back to school too. Easterseals Northeast Central Florida is here to help. Below we’ve collected suggestions on how to best assist young people with autism in successfully starting the new school year; suggestions that also will help parents and caregivers chart the course with greater ease:

• Start talking with your child about the new school year now. It may be one of the best steps you can take in curbing anxiety about the many unknowns that are coming their way.
• Count down the number of days until school begins. Crossing off days on the family calendar will help young minds prepare for changes.
• Begin practicing a school-day morning routine and run through what a typical start of the school day will look like. Some role-playing and pretend time would be fun and helpful as well.
• Outline what your child’s daily school routine may look like (get as specific as you can at this early date) and share it with your child. Walk through the various parts of the day and help them get more comfortable with the overall schedule. Get the full morning routine going at least a week before school starts, complete with wake-up times, breakfast and hygiene.
• Request a meet-and-greet with your child's bus driver. Often, bus drivers take practice runs the week before school starts. Can you meet him or her and make an introduction? Call your school or school district to investigate.
• If you want to beat the campus meet-and-greet crowd, see if you can arrange a school tour before school starts. When touring, take pictures of your child’s classroom and common areas such as the playground and lunchroom and discuss them with your child. (Be sure to ask for permission first.)
• Take advantage of meet-the-teacher opportunities and consider making an appointment for yourself and your child with the principal. At the meetings, take your child’s photo with staff whom your child will interact with often, and display the photo at home.
• In preparation for a meeting with the school staff (see above), help your child’s teacher and the school team get to know your child by preparing a one-page profile of your student and share it with them.
• Are any of your child’s friends moving along with him or her to the next grade level? Reacquaint the children with one another before school starts by arranging a few play dates. The meetups will facilitate the children’s comfort levels with one another as school begins.

 
And finally, ask for help when you need it, and leave the past in the past. Every school year is different, and challenges change along with them. This year won’t be like the ones before, so be ready with resources and an open mind. Reach out to your friends, family, and your Easterseals support team. We are here to help you and your child succeed in the new school year…and all year round.
 
Sources: AutismSpeaks.org, IanCommunity.org, Chla.org

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