Starting a new school year can be an exciting and sometimes stressful time for children and their families. Proper preparation can ease the transition, reduce anxiety, and set the stage for a successful school year.

1. Establish a Routine

• Set a Consistent Schedule: Gradually transition to the school year routine a few weeks before school starts, including wake-up times, meal times, and bedtimes. Practice morning transitions into the car to go for a drive or do an activity so your child is used to transitioning outside of the home first thing in the morning.
• Use a Daily Schedule: Use a visual daily schedule to help your child understand the sequence of daily activities. This could be a visual schedule with pictures or using physical objects to represent each routine. Whichever your child responds to best can also be used in the school environment for consistency.
• Prepare Transition Visuals and Objects: Help establish key visual supports that help your child understand what their schedule is and where they are going. For example, if they will be taking the bus to school, it may be helpful to have a schedule showing First, Ride the Bus, Then, Meet my Teacher in the Classroom. Or, having a small toy bus for the child to hold ahead of going to the bus stop to show them what is coming next.
• Familiarize Your Child with New School Supplies: Avoid sensory overwhelm by making sure your child is familiar with all the things they’ll bring with them to school. Practice changing into indoor shoes at home so your child feels comfortable and confident putting them on and off. Have your child carry their new backpack on outings so they are familiar with how it feels, can successfully use the zippers, and take items in and out. Eat lunch out of lunch containers from a lunch box. Make sure your child is able to open them independently or note what they’ll require adult assistance with at lunch to share with the school.

2. School Familiarization

• School Visit: Arrange a visit to the school before the first day. Familiarize your child with the classroom, bathrooms, sensory spaces or equipment, playground, and other areas they may visit. Take pictures of these spaces during your visit to add to a daily schedule. If your child is returning to the same school, acknowledge which things will be different from last year and which will be the same. Pointing out the familiar parts of the routine will ease anxiety.
• Park Visit: Over the summer, it can be helpful to plan some trips to the school park, helping your child familiarize themselves with the play equipment and exposing them to the school environment.
• Meet the Teacher: If possible, meet with your child’s teacher prior to school, schedule a video call, or show your child a picture of their teacher and support staff in a social story or on your phone. Identify your child’s teacher and key staff members as people who can help your child if they need it.

3. Visual Supports

• Visual Calendar: Create a visual calendar that marks important dates and the countdown to the first day of school. Creating a paper chain countdown calendar is a fun way to do this alongside marking dates on a calendar.
• Social Stories: Use social stories to explain what to expect during the school day including routines, transitions, and social interactions. Be sure to include as many possible details and photos of who will be there, where different things will happen, why they’re important, how to seek accommodations, and who can help them if they are struggling.
• Share Videos and Books about Going to School: Watch cartoons and videos about going to school and read books that talk about going to school. Talk about your own or older sibling’s positive experiences at school and things you found fun and exciting.
• Role-Playing: During play routines, incorporate different school scenarios, such as lining up, asking for help, and interacting with peers. Walk action figures or stuffed animals through the school routine or engage in school-related pretend play.

4. Sensory Considerations

• Sensory Tools: Pack a bag with familiar and preferred sensory tools that can help your child self-regulate, such as fidget toys, noise-canceling headphones, or a weighted lap pad. Talk to your school team about what other tools they may have in the classroom or school.

5. Collaborate with the School

• IPP Review: An IPP (sometimes called an IEP) is a collaborative document created by the teacher with input from parents for the purpose of outlining the academic needs of your child and accommodations that will help them meet the desired goals. You can always ask for clarification from the teacher or school administration before signing it at the start of the year. This will not be prepared prior to the school year. Your child’s teacher needs time to get to know them first.
• All About Me: Share important information about your child’s needs and preferences. This could be done using a one-page All About Me document. (More information on this below).
• Communication Planning: Talk to your classroom team about the best ways to communicate important information. Sometimes a daily communication log is helpful to share things like how the child slept, if they have eaten, or other factors that may affect their regulation levels. The school can complete a second part of the daily log to track your child’s regulation throughout the day, what activities they enjoyed, and what tasks they were assigned. It may be helpful to set up regular emails or meetings to connect periodically throughout the year as well.
• Ask About School Supports: Clarifying with the school about the level of support your child will receive at the start of the year is crucial. Think about your child’s day from start to finish for a typical school day. Make notes on which parts of the day you think your child will need extra support. Does your child need help with hanging up their bag or switching shoes at drop off? Will they be overwhelmed in a louder environment and need to bring ear defenders to gym class? Will your child require one-to-one supervision outside during recess? Your CASE therapy team or PUF class support team can help collaborate on this. Present the list to the school so you can assure they understand what needs must be met and plan to have the correct level of support in your child’s classroom.

Conclusion

With thoughtful preparation and support, the transition to a new school year can be a positive experience for Autistic children and their families. Implementing these strategies can help reduce anxiety, build confidence, and foster a successful school start. Being a strong advocate for your child at school will help build their confidence to self-advocate more and more as they grow.