Getting ready to go back to school is a fun and exciting time for most parents and students, but for some it can cause a lot of anxiety and stress just thinking about it. As parents we want our children to succeed and enjoy going back to school but how do we do that if they have disabilities that cause them so much anxiety that their behaviors have become overwhelming?
When a child has anything from Anxiety, ADD/ADHD, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Autism, Developmental Disorders or any other physical or mental issues, going back to school can seem like a very scary place. So we as parents need to take the time and do what we can to make this transition just a little bit easier for our children.
What can we do? Every child needs to have a good routine that they can count on. Have a little chart that they can understand so they can do some of the tasks themselves to get ready for school the next day, or get ready for bed. It will help ease a little of the anxiety. No one is perfect and we will miss a night or two, but as long as we get most of the nights right, our kids will do better. As hard as it is if we try not to be in a rush in the morning it will make our children more confident. If we start this practice before school starts they will be ready for that first day.
Drive around the school they are attending, especially if they have not been there before. Play on the playground. Let your child get a feel of the school when there are not so many other children around. Have a routine for homework after school so they know what will happen. The more children understand what is going on the less anxious they are. When it comes to school supplies a lot of the schools put all the pencils into a large container and everyone uses them, and for someone like my son that is hard. So I had to make him understand that at school we bought some pencils that would probably be shared. Then I bought some special pencils for homework that were just his. Most importantly, just talk to your kids. You know when something is not right. Keep up on their medication and keep in their life and back to school will be a fun time for them and you.