It seems like Summer is
barely halfway over for some, but others are already back in class.
Now is the time to begin to prepare for sending your child back to
school. That means more than just buying those all important school
supplies that teachers are always so thankful for and need so much.
You may want to write a
social story about what your child can expect in a school day. Read
this story daily and make it exciting and fun! Be sure to include the
following:
- When bedtime will be on nights before going to school
- What time they will have to get up on school mornings
- How will they get to and from school
- Will there be before or after school care
- Any other details that you think may relieve anxiety
- BUT be careful and don't add details that you are not sure of, because you know that your child will hold you to the story, so be sure to leave yourself some room for changes as they can happen.
Make some visits to the
school and become familiar with the building and grounds if this is a
new school. Even if it's not a new school, children are very
reassured to know that this will be the same school that they went to
last year and to be able to see it before there are lots of other
people and noise can be very reassuring and lessen anxiety on those
first few days.
Also, to assist in
transitioning from home to school in the mornings, using a picture or
written schedule can lessen anxiety for children and parents.
Beginning the use of the schedule way before school will have both
used to it and mornings will go smoothly.
With the picture schedule
the activities are checked off as they are completed.
Written schedules can hold
more complex information for more advanced readers.
For more detailed
information on how to utilize these schedules and for blank forms and
free printable picture cards please visit our site here.
No comments:
Post a Comment