Back To School Tips For Children With Autism
The new academic year can be challenging for any child. After all, entering a new grade (or school entirely) comes with a shift in responsibilities and expectations. They will also have to adjust to a new teaching style and re-integrate with their peers after spending a lot of time at home. Furthermore, due to school closures in 2020, these changes may feel even more intense as students transition from homeschooling to a classroom environment. However, the prospect of returning to school maybe even more difficult for children with Autism and related disorders.
As such, it’s important that you find as many ways as possible
to prepare your child to go back to school! Or you can help your children by providing additional support by visiting Occupational Therapy Clinic Rhode Island. But
first, you have to try the following point with your children which possible
prepared your child to go back to school.
Talk about going back to school ahead of time. Children
with autism often react best to new situations when they are able to prepare
for them ahead of time. Therefore, you should ensure you give them plenty of
advance warning before their first day at school rolls around. One way in which
you can achieve this goal is by making it part of your daily conversation. For
example, you could ask them what they are most excited about learning in the
new year, especially if their special interests align with the school
curriculum. You can also bring it up more casually by saying, ‘School starts in
___ days, let’s get everything ready!’. Shopping for new clothes and supplies
is another great way to help them feel more prepared.
Ask to meet their new teacher ahead of time. As
your child moves into a new grade at school, it’s likely that they will also be
assigned a new teacher. While this can be incredibly exciting, it does mean a
slight deviation from what they are used to – as they may have grown accustomed
to a specific teacher’s teaching style or behaviors. Thankfully, there are
various ways in which you can go about making your child feel more comfortable
with a new teacher. For example, you could ask if they can meet with their
teacher ahead of time, ideally in their new classroom, to get a feel for the
space. Alternatively, you could schedule a quick zoom session with the teacher
so that your child can introduce themselves and ask any questions they might
have.
Set new goals for the academic year. Children
with autism and related disorders are often very driven and like to present
themselves with a series of challenges. As such, they usually thrive in an
academic environment. Therefore, you can help them feel more excited about
starting school by encouraging them to set themselves new goals for the
academic year.
Put together a schedule. Children with
autism or related disorders also tend to thrive when operating in a clearly
structured environment. In this regard, attending school each day works in their
favor – as they will be expected to arrive at the same time each morning and
eat lunch at the same time each day. However, you can support them during this
time by putting together a clear schedule for the rest of their time. For
example, they should have a short break after school before doing their
homework or participating in extra-curricular activities.
In short, there are various steps you can take to support your
child as they prepare for the new school year. Doing so will support them
through these changes and ensure they put their best foot forward. However, if
you think they may need some additional support – we offer both in-person and
online therapy services designed to help children with autism in Occupational Therapy Clinic in RI.
We provide Autism Treatment in RI and we also
have Autism Clinic in RI if anyone wants extra additional support for their
children visit Applied Behavior Analysis Clinic.
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