Back to School Tips

Whether you are ready or not, it is back to school time. Boundless just welcomed back the kids in our autism centers last week and staff have been helping them adjust to the new routine. Going back to school can be a stressful time for children and parents alike so we asked Kristen Messer, ELM clinic director at Boundless, to share some suggestions to make it a smoother transition. Messer has been working with kids at Boundless for nine years and has lots of valuable tips and tricks to share.   

First, it is important to start getting back into the routine of school as early as possible even before school starts. “Get up when you would for school, eat breakfast, brush your teeth, the whole 9-yards,” Messer said. “The more familiar the routine is, the easier it is to keep it going with less issues.” These routines help give children a sense of control over their school life and set them up for life skills that will carry on past school hours. Even if it is just picking up simple habits it can make an enormous difference. There is nothing worse than waking up at 6 a.m. on the first day of school when you have been sleeping in for the past two months.  

Messer also wants to stress that giving the child as much choice and control as possible is important. Even if it is something as simple as asking which shirt they want to wear can provide such a sense of freedom for them, considering how little they may have control over in their daily lives. “Giving the choice allows the kiddo to feel like they are making important choices in their lives,” Messer said. “It helps them learn to make appropriate choices moving forward.” Providing choices creates a respectful, cooperative bond between you and your child that will progress beyond the first day of school.  

Finally, Messer’s most important piece of advice is to not sweat the small stuff and keep moving past the little things. “Getting everyone in the house ready for the day can be rough,” Messer said. “But in the grand scheme of things there are certainly things that should not be worried about.” Your children are working just as hard as you are to prepare for the school year, so it is important to have patience with them. It is important to remember that if you are having a bad day, the kids probably are too. Instead of letting that stress build up, discuss your feelings and theirs to try to come to a healthy compromise. 

We here at Boundless want to wish everyone a wonderful and safe school year. Always remember, we are here to help whenever possible. If your child is struggling to adjust to the new routine, please reach out to his/her program leader.