Back to school on the autism spectrum

Daily Activity Chart based on charts from CCDC, Coatesville

Many families with kids on the spectrum face unique difficulties as the school year starts, such as re-establishing simple routines for getting ready in the morning. Often, by the time the school year starts, the weather has already changed in the Philadelphia area, adding on to the transitions that our kids face at this time of year.

There's bound to be some tough mornings ahead as kids settle in to the new routines, so here are some tips for handling all the transitions they have to face, including the shift to cooler nights and mornings!

• Find out who your child's teachers, aides and other personnel will be at school and what room the class will be in. If possible, take pictures of each person and the room and do a walk-through with your child of what to expect before the school year starts.
• Start moving bedtime earlier at least a week before school starts if your child has been on vacation and gotten used to staying up a little later and getting up later. If necessary, consult your physician for a mild, temporary sleep aid, to help your child with getting back to a healthy bedtime routine as sleep problems can make for very difficult school day mornings.
• Make sure that all clothing bought new for the school year has been handled to deal with any sensory issues your child may have. For kids who can't handle tags, try cutting them off or even pulling out the seam and re-stitching so that collars and hems are soft. Try to avoid socks with pronounced seams or make sure the seams are in a place where your child can tolerate them, such as across the top of the foot instead of at the toe line and vice versa, depending on your child.
•  Run clothes through the dryer for a few minutes, or put clothes in the bed under the covers for a little while before starting the getting dressed routine if your child is sensitive to the cold. The extra heat will help to make that first step outside a little easier and help head off a meltdown.
• Let your child get dressed under the covers in bed. This helps to retain body heat as pajamas are removed and the switch to school clothes is made.
• Engage your child in choosing clothes for the week and lay them out in order so that he or she knows what's coming from day to day during getting dressed time. Some kids might enjoy a clothes organizer with the days of the week marked on it so they can set aside their outfits from day to day and put them in order, all ready to go.
• Get any school supplies and papers that need to go back to school with your child ready the night before so that he or she only has to grab a backpack and go. This is helpful for any child, but helps to maintain a structured routine for kids on the autism spectrum. Sometimes it can be helpful to engage your spectrum kid with the actual packing activity so that he or she feels in control of the contents of the backpack and knows exactly where everything is.
• Make sure that backpack and lunchbox and anything else that's going to school every day is always in the same place, ready to go in the morning to help minimize "Where Is X ..." problems and avoid flustering yourself and your child. This also helps to build structure for spectrum children and reduces stress to help avoid meltdowns.
• Set up a rewards system and a structured list of morning activities your child needs to complete before getting out the door. A lot of spectrum kids like having a clear path set out for them from day to day and a list that they can own and refer back to helps to make mornings smoother. Simple activities such as getting dressed, eating breakfast and brushing teeth can be put on the list with pictures. Our morning chart is based off of the same chart that our son uses in class at the Child and Career Development Center in Coatesville to provide continuity between home and school. Points are earned for activities completed without extra prompting and result in a reward such as moving up on a color line or a special treat at the end of the week.
•  If you have Wraparound Services, work closely with your service person/s to set up social stories and other techniques to prepare your child for the school day or any upcoming changes like vacations or special school days throughout the year.

Back to school days are an exciting but often trying time for all kids, but our spectrum children need a little extra help with all of the transitions that come along with this time of year. These tips can be a helpful start to a new school year!