Fiesta Family

Back to School: Making the Transition From Summer to School

Summer has come to a close and school is about to start again. Here are a few tips to help make the transition back to school more bearable for you and your child. 

Review your child's current IEP or 504 plan. 

• Schedule an appointment with your child's team at school to go over goals and to make a plan for the year. 
• Start a communication log with each member of your child's team. Make sure everyone is always on the same page. 
• Keep an ongoing list of questions!

Attend school events

• If possible, schedule a time prior to or after a 'Back to School Night' to avoid crowds and the potential for a high anxiety situation for your child. 
• Create a relationship with your child's new teacher. Make sure his/her teacher is prepared for your child and is aware of needs and accommodations. 

TALK!

• Talk to your child, your child's teacher, doctor, and even school nurse
• Begin preparing your child for what is coming up. Address their concerns and provide information slowly to prevent them from being bombarded with too much at once. 
• Talk to your child's doctor to make sure all medications are up to date and correct dosages are prescribed.
• Talk to your child's school nurse to make sure any paper work is filled out to receive medications and they are aware of any medical concerns. 

Establish a routine

• Create a master visual schedule for everyone at home. 
• High light areas that are specific to your child. 
• Post a visual picture and written routine so there is no confusion. 
• Begin practicing before school starts to avoid surprises. 
• Create positive incentives or reward system ahead of time. 
• Gradually begin to adjust bed time if there was a change over summer.