Back to School Tips and Tricks for Kids on the Autism Spectrum

The new school year brings excitement and anxiety for parents and children. Some of us will be going to school in person, others will be doing online school, and another group of us will be homeschooling, some of us for the first time. As summer ends and school begins, the daily routine changes which can be particularly difficult for children on the autism spectrum. Hopefully, the advice below will help prepare your child for the coming school year and make the back to school transition go as smoothly as possible.

1. Restore and Re-establish Routine.

Reacquaint your child with the academic environment. If your child is attending in-person school this year, take them on a school or classroom tour. If possible meet your child's teacher and any classmates before the first day of school. If this cannot be arranged, at least visit the school grounds and allow your child to hang out on the playground. A few weeks before school starts, plan times when you can drive by the school. If possible drive your child to school on the first day rather than putting him on the school bus. A busy, crowded, noisy school bus on the first day can cause sensory "overload" to occur for some children with ASD. As a result, do your best to progressively reintroduce the transportation routine. If your child is attending school online, show your child a picture of their school, their teacher, and any classmates before school starts. Some schools set up video visits with teachers before school begins. This is a good way to get your child acquainted with the school staff. If you are homeschooling your child show them the curriculum they will be working on. Tell them about some of the fun field trips and other school projects you have planned. Think about using a visual schedule to help them know what to expect throughout the day.

2. Be Ready for Anything.

Parents are not fortune-tellers. Unfortunately, there is no magic crystal ball that alerts us about everything that may occur throughout any given day. As a result, during the first week of school, plan yourself and your child for the unexpected. If your child is attending school in-person come up with an action plan they can use during unstructured times, such as recess and lunch. Use social stories to acclimate your child to new routines and teach them to address unexpected events when they occur. Expect that your child's senses will be overstimulated during the first week or so of school. They must readjust to all the hustle and bustle of a standard school building. Especially places like the cafeteria, which can be especially noisy. Set up an action plan for this specific situation, discuss with your child's teacher of a quiet place where the child can go to take a short break if needed or allow him to wear noise reduction earmuffs. Ensure that your child's classroom teachers know of your child's food allergies, dietary restrictions, or other pertinent health information before the first day of school to prevent miscommunication.

3. Explicitly Teach Socially Acceptable Behavior.

Children with ASD may need the “dos and don’ts” of acceptable school behavior clearly defined. Use pictures to talk to your child through a typical school day step by step before school actually starts. Use a social story or visual schedule to teach your child about school routines. Practice new social situations with your child that they may encounter. Realize, you are your child’s greatest support. Foster positive relationships with your child’s teacher and administrators via email, text, or phone call before school starts. Alert your child's teachers to your child's greatest strengths and weaknesses before school starts. Let the school staff know you are there to support them as they support your child. Ask the teacher for a schedule of the activities she has planned for the first week of school. Then, help your child get ready for the activities by acting them out, rehearsing, and talking about them. This preparation will relieve stress when your child encounters new activities during the school day.

In conclusion, make every effort to decrease the stress levels in your household during this transitional period. That means taking good care of yourself and seeking the support you need as well. Keep in mind that your child will often follow your lead. If you are calm and composed as your child transitions back to school it will go well.

I wish you all the best and hope you have a fabulous school year!

Source: Wilkinson, L. (2020). Back to School - tips for parents of children on the autism spectrum - Living Autism. Retrieved 5 September 2020, from https://livingautism.com/back-school-tips-parents-children-autism-spectrum/