According to the Pew Research Center, students with autism make up about 12% of the nation’s schoolchildren with disabilities. Navigating the transition to school after autism therapy can sometimes seem overwhelming for many parents and their children. However, making this transition doesn’t have to be scary. Keep reading to learn several tips you can use for an easier transition to school after autism therapy.
Carebot ABA offers premier behavioral therapy in New Jersey to help children on the autism spectrum achieve their fullest potential. We create a warm environment so your child can feel safe and empowered to grow their confidence and foster new skills. Our New Jersey children’s therapy center provides a range of treatment programs to give your child the unique care they need to thrive and reach their potential. Contact us to learn more about how we can help your child today.
5 Tips for an Easy Transition to School After Autism Therapy
Transitioning to school after autism therapy can seem daunting for parents and children alike. Because children on the autism spectrum thrive on routine, any change, including a change of environment, can seem overwhelming. However, there are several tips you can use so your child can have a smoother time transitioning to school after autism therapy.
- Prioritize a Gradual Transition
First, it’s important to understand that gradual exposure to your child’s new school and school routine can greatly help them transition. This is because a gradual transition will help desensitize them and prevent them being quickly overwhelmed with too many unfamiliar changes. Consider gradually increasing your child’s exposure to their new school, such as starting off with school visits and meeting their potential teacher rather than jumping right into having your child experience a whole school day right away.
- Create a Structured Routine
Because children with autism like routine and predictability, it’s important to create a structured routine for your child’s new school experience. This will help reduce their risk of feeling overwhelmed by uncertainty. While it may take your child some time to adjust to moving to a new school, prioritizing consistency and routine will help your child more easily adjust to their new environment and day-to-day routine.
- Communicate with Your Child’s Teacher
As a parent or caregiver, it’s also important that you regularly communicate with your child’s teachers and other school support staff. This way, you can stay updated on your child’s progress as they transition from autism therapy to school. Before the transition, you should talk with your child’s teachers about helpful information about your child, such as any triggers or interests they may have. This information will allow the school staff to create a more comfortable and effective learning environment for your child.
- Continue to Use Visual Strategies
Many children with autism benefit from visual strategies and cues. Therefore, it’s important you continue to use visual strategies to your advantage to help your child transition. This can look like creating a visual calendar to show your child when they will be at school each week so they are prepared for the upcoming transition. You can also consider using a visual daily schedule of what their routine will look like each day at school to further prepare them for the transition.
- Use Social Stories to Prepare for Change
Similar to the above tip, social stories can be a highly effective way to prepare your child for the upcoming transition to school from autism therapy. Outlining to your child who they will interact with and what activities they’ll be doing from the start of the school day to the end of the day will further prepare them with what they can expect and reduce feelings of uncertainty.
Help Is Available
As you can see, navigating the transition to school after autism therapy does not have to be overwhelming or scary. There are several tips and tricks you can implement, from prioritizing a gradual transition to using a structured routine to help your child adjust and navigate the transition to school after autism therapy.
At Carebot ABA, we help children on the autism spectrum thrive and reach their fullest potential. We understand that each child has unique care needs. That’s why we offer a comprehensive range of treatment options and programs to ensure your child can grow in their confidence and thrive. Contact us to learn more about our ABA therapy program and how we can support your child.