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It feels great to have your child with you all day, playing, going places, and doing all sorts of fun things. However, it’s essential as a parent to establish a healthy routine that will ease your child into the upcoming academic session. Transitioning from the comfy, relaxing schedules of the summer holiday to the rigors of a four-walled classroom can be a bit too much for the kids. This could affect their mental health and emotional well-being.

This blog explains the preparations your special needs child requires for the new school year to alleviate the stress and anxiety of resuming school after a long holiday.

Why Effective Routines Are Key for Special Needs Children

Children thrive on routines. As the new school year approaches, breaking away from the typical schedule they were used to during the holiday and embracing a new set for school could overwhelm them. The holiday is playfully structured to accommodate their needs, which might be the complete opposite of what your child should get used to when the new school year resumes.

Therefore, you need to ease them slowly into the new set of routines that would prepare them for school. Establishing a routine gives your child a sense of safety and predictability. In addition, it provides a clear roadmap of what to expect each day. Furthermore, it reduces anxiety and fosters independence.

With effective routines, it becomes easier for the child to adapt to school life. This isn’t something that you should rush them into doing. If you do, you're setting them up for failure and mental breakdown. A clear set of routines reduces stress for the child, parents, and even the teachers.

How to Build Effective Routines for Your Special Needs Child

Here’s how to break the holiday routine and implement a new set for the upcoming school year:

1. Begin the Transition Early

Adaptation doesn’t come easily for children with special needs. Dropping the bomb that school starts on Monday can leave them incredibly anxious. Therefore, it’s recommended you start routine shifts 1 - 3 weeks before the session begins.

Dr. Patricia DeForest, a pediatric palliative physician, said starting new routines before school should begin two or three weeks before enables the children to get comfortable with them. Early transitions are key to your child’s adaptation.

2. Establish a Healthy Sleep Schedule

Sleep is essential to a child’s health, but it’s one aspect that suffers the most when school resumes. During the holiday, the child may have a relaxed, irregular sleep schedule. During the school year, they'd have to stick to a tight sleep schedule, and when they are deprived of sleep, concentration issues and irritability ensue.

Therefore, they should learn to sleep earlier and wake up earlier before school starts. As a parent, move bedtime earlier by 15 or 30 minutes every few days until your child gets accustomed to sleeping and waking up at appropriate school times. Ensure the room is quiet and distraction-free to ease sleep. You can establish a “no-screen” rule an hour before bedtime.

3. Fuel the Body with the Right Food at Appropriate Times

The meals your child takes directly affect their behavioral health, cognitive functioning, and energy levels. With the school year approaching, they should focus on eating meals that will enhance their academic performance and emotional stability. Furthermore, they should eat meals that provide a balanced diet.

Never allow your special needs child to skip breakfast because it sets the tone for the day. In addition, they should avoid sugary meals and instead, focus on meals that include protein and whole grains. Their snacks should be nutrient-rich to keep their energy steady. Lastly, remind them to always hydrate every now and then to improve mental clarity.

4. Develop Visual Schedules

Time management is crucial to your child’s academic success and overall well-being. Children who can manage their time effectively will feel less stressed. That’s why creating visual schedules is essential. Use charts, icons, or simple words to structure their day, from waking up to bedtime. Visual timers are also important, as they signal about an upcoming activity, keeping them prepared for what’s about to come next. This fosters more independence.

5. Break Down Routines into Small Steps

Routines are more efficient when they’re broken down into manageable tasks. If clustered, they create confusion for the child. Identify the different times of the day (morning, afternoon, and bedtime) and map out clearly each activity for the different times. For instance:

- Morning: Wake up > Bathroom > Brush teeth > Dress > breakfast > pack your bag > head to school.

- Afternoon: Get home > undress > shower > eat > rest > homework > downtime for creative activities.

- Bedtime: Dinner > Bath > Brush teeth > Reading > Lights out.

Ensure to maintain consistency with this routine. If it doesn’t work out as hoped, make small alterations. Figure out what works best for your special needs child and stick to it. Remember not to integrate the new routines too fast. Take your time and build on them slowly.

6. Organize a Short School Tour with Your Child

If it’s a new school, classroom, or teacher, it’s imperative you take your child on a short school tour for familiarity's sake. This will ease stress and anxiety and help them understand their expectations. You could take pictures of the classroom and the entire school vicinity to create a visual preview. Reviewing the pictures together will instill confidence in your child.

In addition, rehearse core school-day tasks before the academic session begins. This includes packing a lunch, taking them to school, etc. These practices will ease anxiety in the first few weeks.

7. Establish Open and Consistent Communication

Transitioning back to school is more of a family affair - encourage open communication between you and the child. Let them be expressive of their worries about resumption or any topic and validate their feelings. It’s typical for kids to be anxious but assure them that everything will be alright. Also, involve the teachers, if possible, to know your child’s progress in school and what needs to be done for further improvement.

Final Take

As your child prepares for the school year, remember that consistency and balance are two things that will help them thrive. That's what a clear and effective set of routines will provide. Early preparation can set the stage for success. Implementing these routines will build confidence and independence. However, you must start small and scale gradually to avoid overwhelming them.

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