How to Help Your Child with Autism Prepare For a School Trip


Field trips provide children with the opportunity to further consolidate the knowledge they’ve acquired in the classroom through real-life experiences. They also allow them to form stronger bonds with their peers outside of the classroom environment.

In short, they are an essential part of your child’s academic development. In fact, one study found that “children who take school trips have better grades (59%), higher graduation rates from high school (95%) and college (63%), and greater income (12% higher annually).”

However, for children with Autism Treatment and related disorders, field trips may be a little anxiety-inducing.

Why are field trips harder for children with autism?

Children with autism and related disorders work best within a routine, both in and out of school. For example, they often like to know what they are doing and when. This knowledge is often empowering as they feel more confident heading into their day, knowing they will not encounter any unexpected challenges.

As a field trip is a direct deviation from their routine, this can lead to some upset. However, that’s not to say that children with autism do not enjoy field trips, especially when specific accommodations are put in place to support them!

How to help your child prepare for a school field trip.

Put together a schedule for the day. Asking your child’s teacher to spend some time curating a schedule for the day can go a long way toward ensuring your child feels as prepared as possible for their trip. Read the schedule with your child beforehand, and provide them with a printed copy to refer to if necessary. You should also add the trip to their calendar in advance.

Look at the destination’s website. Whether your child is visiting a local zoo or museum, checking out their website ahead of time is another excellent way to prepare your child for the trip. This is because it will give them greater insight into what to expect from the day, especially if they can view a virtual tour or check out pictures beforehand.

Consider being a parent volunteer. Many schools ask for parents to volunteer to act as chaperones during school trips, so you may want to consider taking on this role if possible. This way, you’re on hand to help should your child be having a hard time.

Pack noise-cancelling headphones. Field Trips can be noisy affairs, especially when children are excited to have a day off school. As such, you may want to pack some noise-canceling headphones in your child’s backpack, which can help ensure they do not feel overwhelmed or overestimated.

Discuss the trip in Autism Therapy. If your child is currently receiving therapy, discuss the upcoming trip with their therapist. This is because they will be able to suggest other ways in which you can prepare your child and may also teach them some effective coping strategies that they can use on the day if necessary.

School trips are essential in more ways than one, and as such, you should encourage your child to participate in these activities as much as possible. The above guidance is a great way to prepare them for this challenge!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Navigating the Path to an Autism Diagnosis for Your Child

Image
For children with autism and related disorders , receiving an official diagnosis plays a key role in their development moving forward. After all, this means that they can access additional support services, put accommodations in place to support them moving forward, and begin to explore different therapeutic interventions. This is particularly important when you understand that early intervention has many benefits, as it means that your child is developing a range of skills and coping mechanisms that will set them up for life. With that in mind, here are some steps that you can follow to ensure your child receives an autism diagnosis as soon as possible. Understand the Early Signs. Right now, the average age for an autism diagnosis is three years old for boys and four for girls. However, studies have found that “many children show symptoms of autism by 12 months to 18 months of age or earlier.” Being able to pick up on the early signs, alongside some of the lesser-known symptoms of aut
Read more

How Do I Know Which Autism Therapy Is Right for My Child

Image
Neurodiverse children and adults experience the world in different ways to neurotypical people. For example, they may respond differently to sounds, sights, and sensations due to how they process the things happening around them. However, the issue is that the world is built for neurotypical people and their comfort, meaning that the varying needs of the neurodiverse population are not taken into account. While there has been plenty of positive change in terms of inclusivity (such as sensory-friendly film screenings) in recent years, there is still a long way to go. As a result, psychologists have developed a range of intervention techniques used to support those with autism and related disorders so that they can reach their full potential. One such intervention is therapy. In this guide, we will walk you through some of the different forms of therapy available at our clinic and how to decide which program is right for you. Applied Behavior Analysis Applied behavior analysis, or ABA, i
Read more

How to Follow a Healthy Lifestyle with Autism

Image
Even as adults, many of us struggle to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Whether we find it difficult to remain motivated with exercise or to stick to a nutritious diet, we must find a healthy balance! However, for children with autism (and their families), it can be even more difficult to follow a healthy lifestyle, and many will require extra support to ensure they can do so. At Alee Behavioral, we have many years of experience in working with children with autism and their families to ensure they can reach their full potential. Our holistic approach encompasses many different kinds of Autism Therapy, from speech therapy to Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). However, we also understand the importance of maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle in addition to any extra support they may receive. To help, we’ve compiled some ‘Top Tips’, on how to best maintain a healthy lifestyle for children with autism! Keep moving! Children with autism will have varied interests and hobbies. They tend
Read more