The countdown is on for September. School will be approaching within a month. For some, that is good news, and for others, it is the pits! Some children and teens look forward to a fresh start with brand-new books and a clean slate and always promising to use the very best handwriting each and every day. But for others, it means the end of summer freedom and fun. This transition can bring about a mixture of emotions.
Starting a new school is a sensitive time for all children. However, for those who have autism spectrum disorder or another special personality, anything new is incredibly daunting. It is the unknown. People who have a limited language base struggle with creating pictures in their minds of what future events may resemble; they have trouble imagining what school may be like in September. The inability to daydream about what the new classroom may look like, what their teacher’s voice sounds like, and simply what to expect, affects their ability to self-prepare in a relaxed fashion.
People who have typical social skills receive information from others. Typical children are experts at watching the goings-on of upper grades in their schools. They are able to ask for and retrieve information from their peers. Your typical children and relatives already know the names of their future teachers. They have the ability to “chit-chat” and receive news in a childlike way. Typical people get their questions answered very easily. As a result, their anxiety level decreases.
If you have someone in your family with special needs, preparation for a new school year needs to be more concrete. Here are some suggestions that may help:
• Visit and experience. Take the child or teen on a tour of the school before September arrives. Have him look inside the new classroom to enjoy a visual journey. If possible, allow a tactile visit, so he can explore some items within the classroom with careful hands. Have him navigate the recess yard while it is empty, quiet, and peaceful. Follow the route from locker to each period of classes.
• Visual support. Ask the new teachers for a personal photo, such as a headshot. Being able to look at a picture is a way to create an image of this new person in your child’s mind.
• Schedule and plan. Record the school day schedule in a planner at home; pre-teaching your child when to expect gym, or music class, or recess, or other special instruction time will ease anxiety.
• Tracking time. Use a calendar at home to count down the days before school starts. Use a calendar or planner all year to record days off from school, vacations, or special presentations.
Realize that your child or teen is, in his own way, having these same thoughts as other children and adolescents. Due to his communicative level, he is holding onto these questions, as opposed to seeking out the answers. Following these tips will help to ease the jitters related to the transition to a new school year. Always modify suggestions to fit your child’s specific needs. And, always, be courteous and respectful of your school’s rules. This will lead to your child’s team being super receptive and open-minded when you need their support in a unique area such as transition planning.
