EDUCATION
Successful Transitioning:
The Back to School Blues
By Marisa GOUDY, BCBA
Break time is over—it’s time to go back to school! Sometimes the transition from
calm summer days to busy school days can be challenging for a child with autism
spectrum disorder (ASD).
H
eading back to school means
your child needs to be awake and
ready to go early in the morn-
ing and then spend all day in an
environment with more people,
lights, and sounds than he/she
may like. This may be followed
by after school activities—and we haven’t
even mentioned the amount of school-
work piled on.
Does your child need some help making
these important transitions? Let’s take a
look at some strategies you and your child
can use to help prepare for the week lead-
ing up to school, the night before the first
day, the first morning, and your child’s ar-
rival at school to help him/her transition
with ease.
The Week Leading Up to School
Before school starts, it is helpful for your
child to be introduced (or re-introduced) to
familiar people he/she will be seeing (e.g.,
teachers, peers, etc.). Some schools allow a
teacher to meet you and your child in the
comfort of your own home, so they can get
to know one another. Some schools will
let your child meet the teacher in the class-
room before school starts, so he/she can
explore the space. Sometimes a teacher is
able to suggest families who would be open
to connecting before school starts, so your
child can get to know classmates. Ideas
for play dates include: going to the play-
ground, getting ice cream, going to local
activities (e.g., museums, fairs, etc.). These
Autism Parenting Magazine | Issue 65 |
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