The first few weeks of school can be exciting but also a bit jittery for many children. For neurodivergent children or those who have sensory processing differences, though, this can be a source of intense anxiety.
With unfamiliar classmates, new teachers, and changes in routines, many children struggle. The good news is that when teachers and parents know what to look for and ways to respond, we can help them commence the school year with confidence.
Before moving on to actionable steps, it’s important to discuss some of the common signs you might notice in your classroom or at home. Your child may state that they have a headache or stomachache, have meltdowns, exhibit signs of withdrawal or irritability, they may complain a lot, have nightmares or difficulty self-regulating. Keep in mind that each child is different and they may experience back-to-school anxiety in different ways.
Remember and remind your children that this is not a sign of weakness – it’s a sign that they are being asked to give more than they are comfortable with at the moment. They need the right support to help ease their burden so that they can thrive.
Actionable Steps:
#1. Parental Support at Home
Parents supporting their children at home is the first part of this section because for many children, home is their safe space. The following will help you and your children at home.
- 1. Practice the routine of the day for before and after school. Use the visual schedule like the following resource to support them.
- 2. Talk to your children about common situations that your child might encounter at school, like organizing their backpack, lining up for an assembly and more. Role-play with your children so that they are prepared for these circumstances. You can practice phrases that they can use with these FREE social stories that I’ve created.
- 3. You may also want to consider focusing on teaching your children how to self-regulate so that they can manage their anxiety. You can do this by checking out the course listed in step #2.
#2. Teacher Support in the Classroom
This section is for how teachers can support their children in their classroom.
- 1. Greet each student in the morning to create connection.
- 2. Post and review a visual daily schedule so that children know what’s expected from them on a daily basis. If possible, create a mini version it for their desk so that it’s close to them and could serve as a checklist. If you have to deviate from this schedule, give advanced notice to your children whenever it’s possible.
- 3. Provide your children with a calm space where the student can take breaks and manage their emotions. In my course, ADHD and Autism Self Regulation Space, I’ll show you how to create it in a step-by-step method, we’ll look at different ways to teach your children how to self-regulate in and out of your classroom and how to keep track of it to advocate for the needs of your child. You can join the course by clicking on the following image.
- 4. Create a buddy system with your children so that they have someone to run ideas by, work on transitions with and play with on a regular basis. This will help them feel less lonely and will ease some of their anxiety.
#3. Find Extra Support
If your child’s anxiety persists past the first few weeks of school or if it intensifies and interferes significantly with daily life, it’s important to:
- Check in with your child’s pediatrician, their occupational therapists or with a child friendly therapist.
- You may also want to talk to their teacher and school team to assess what’s working and what supports need to be adjusted.
- It may also be worthwhile to make revisions to your child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
Recap:
Let’s recap really quickly. Today, we looked at the following:
- Signs that your child is struggling with back-to-school anxiety.
- Back-to-school anxiety in neurodivergent kids: What to Look For: parental support at home, teacher support in the classroom, and find extra support.
Free Resources:
For a taste of the resources that were mentioned in step two, check out the following resource in my FREE Education Resource Library.
Teach your little ones how to make good choices with the following FREE Resource:
Next Steps:
If you found this video beneficial, would you do me a favor? Share this with your family, your friends, your loved ones, your co-workers or someone who you think could benefit from this. Thank you!
You’re welcome to join us inside ADHD and Autism Self Regulation by CLICKING HERE or on the fallowing image.
I’ll see you next Friday at 5:30pm PST.
Until I see you next time, remember to create, experience & teach from the heart.
Take care,
Charlotte
Disclaimer: I’m a teacher and a parent. I’m not a medical professional, so please don’t take this as medical advice. The advice that I provide in my videos and online are strategies that I have used in my own class or at home that have worked beautifully.
