Though the weather outside is frightfully hot, a visit to your local air-conditioned Walmart or Target, where you’ll find aisles of Disney princess and Super Mario-themed lunchboxes and looseleaf notebooks, will remind you that back-to-school season is here.
Back-to-school season engenders a variety of feelings in kids from joy and excitement, to fear and anxiety. For children who face learning challenges, difficulty with transitions, or poor social skills, returning to classrooms may be especially stressful. Foresight and preparation can make all the difference in starting the new school year on a positive note. So, here are some steps you can take to make school year 2023-2024 the best it can be.
1. Adapt your child’s sleep schedule
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “children ages 3-5 years [should] get 10 to 13 hours of sleep including naps, children ages 6-12 years old [should] get 9-12 hours of sleep and children 13-18 years [should] get 8-10 hours of sleep.” During summer vacations, many families are more liberal about their children’s sleep schedules. To give your child the best chance of a successful transition, gradually move his bedtime and wakeup schedules to a school-appropriate schedule. In addition, re-introduce a bedtime routine including bathing, teeth-brushing, and changing into PJs. Limit screen time before bed since lights from a computer screen, phone or TV inhibit sleep. Instead, read to your child, or encourage independent readers to wind down with a book.
2. Communicate with your child’s teacher
If possible, set up a time to meet with, email or talk with your child’s teacher before the first day of school. The teacher will likely appreciate the insight you can provide about your child’s areas of interest, strengths and weaknesses as well as any behavior tips you can share. This conversation is also a good opportunity to make sure that all arrangements and accommodations for your student’s learning needs are in place.
3. Take your child to meet the teacher
If time allows, take your child to visit her teacher prior to the first day of school. This will ease your child’s anxiety about the unknown and make her feel more comfortable about the start of the school year.
4. Tour the school building
Set up a pre-first day visit to the school to help acclimate your student to his surroundings. This is especially important if your child will be in a brand-new environment or if he benefits from repetition.
5. Encourage your child to share feelings about the upcoming school year
Don’t wait for your child to raise anxieties, fears or excitement about the upcoming transition. Instead, explore her feelings whenever the opportunity arises. One good way to start a conversation is by reading books with back-to-school themes.
6. Set up playdates prior to the first day
If you know other children who’ll be attending your child’s school, or even better, who will be among your child’s classmates, set up a playdate prior to the first day. Seeing a familiar face or two on the first day of school can make a world of difference to an anxious student.
7. Shop for back-to-school supplies with your child
Sometimes it seems easiest to purchase your child’s school supplies without her input, but enlisting her involvement is a great way to help prepare your child mentally and physically for returning to school. If your child has physical limitations or sensory needs, take care to find supplies that work for her. For example, check out Enabling Devices’ mounting devices and systems that hold adaptive switches and iPads. If your child is non-verbal, consider investing in a new communicator that aligns with his current language level. Or help your student improve her skills with adaptive tools such as our LED Light Box, ADL board, or Adapted Battery Operated Scissors.
