The new school year is just around the corner and with this crazy year behind us, many children are transitioning back to in-person learning. For some, this may be their first time in school, and may not be ready for the new changes and transitions. Here are a couple of tips to help your child prepare for the school year ahead with ease:

1. The week before school starts, begin starting your daily routine by waking up in preparation for school.
2. Social stories are a great tool to explain what to expect during the school day including bus riding, starting school, and meeting new friends. Here are a few examples: https://www.abaresources.com/wp-content/uploads/How-to-Talk-to-My-Friends.pdf https://nationalautismresources.com/content/BacktoSchoolFemale.pdf https://nationalautismresources.com/content/BacktoSchoolFemale.pdf
3. If your child is new to eating lunch at school, practice at home eating from their lunch box and making sure they are able to manage the containers well.
4. Be sure to layout clothes and prep their backpack the night before to ease the stress on the first day.
5. Prepare a visual schedule of what to expect during the school day at home as well as after school. Talk with your teacher to see if they can help with a daily schedule for school to help kids prepare for the day.
6. For the older kids, practice using a planner so they stay organized. You can prepare the planner by writing their classes in order.

We hope you find these tips helpful and we wish you and your family the best of luck for a safe and successful school year!