Yo! Mick here.
The first week or so back to school is typically filled with adjustments for any child or family. For a student on the autism spectrum and their family there are even more adjustments and these can create some intense reactions or require some fairly extreme planning.
Adjustments may include:
- Back to school rituals for the student
- Family routines are shifted - again
- Getting up earlier than in the summer and going to bed earlier
- New schools (may be same or different school districts or different schools as in transitioning to middle school or high school)
- New teacher or teachers
- Meeting new friends
- Reacquainted with the bullies
- Switching to school or fall clothes from play or summer clothes
- Wearing shoes (with socks) and learning to tie them
- Homework
- Less time for preferred activities
- Less time with favorite pets or people (my biggest pet peeve! grin - thump, thump!)
- Returning to or adjusting medication doses
- Classroom rules may be different
- Higher expectations for the student and the student may have higher expectations of others or themselves (even unrealistic expectations?)
- Expectations which are too low
- Paperwork demands
- Learning new skills in and out of classroom
- Sports or other activities such as band
2 comments:
Even with all the foreshadowing and transition-work in the world, there is no way to overcome the sheer magnitude of adjustment that is demanded by school.
If I were queen of the world, I would have year-round school with shorter school days that start in mid-morning so our teens could get enough sleep. Not that summer break isn't lovely, but I'd be great with two weeks instead of three months.
Also, if I were queen, I would ban acne. But that's another story altogether.
Mick, am I correct in assuming you're of the canine type? If so, I must applaud your advanced state of intelligence. I don't think I've ever met a dog as brilliant as you... ;)
Ah yes, we are making the "new teacher" adjustment here in my house. Not a good one, I'm afraid. I've never asked a dog for advice before, but I feel compelled...
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