The Back to School Transition- 5 Tips and some helpful tools to transition your child and family back into the school year

Back to School can be a very exciting and stressful time of year for children and their families. Transitioning from a familiar summer routine to back to a more structured school routine can call for earlier bed and wake up times, more sensory input, less movement, less time outside and a whole lot of new learning, especially as students meet new teachers and classmates and learn new expectations and routines. In the first couple of weeks especially, children can experience After School Restraint Collapse which “refers to the emotional release children experience when they come home after a long day of school.” (Ref: https://robertsacademy.org/understanding-after-school-restraint-collapse-what-it-is-and-how-to-help-your-child/) After a day at school of exerting increased energy and processing increased input, “the emotional “restraint” they’ve maintained all day can collapse, leading to meltdowns, irritability, or tearfulness.” Having a plan in place can help to ease the transition back to school and provide a safe space at home if your child is experiencing After School Restraint Collapse.

Read on for some helpful tips for the Back to School transition!

Ease in to your routine

Start early easing back into a routine for the school year by waking up a little earlier every day and going to bed earlier every night.

If you can, try eat at predictable times close to when mealtimes will be during the school year. This also includes with their general schedule, for extracurricular activities. Allowing some time to start back with their school routine and after school routine before involving activities can be helpful for easing the transition into a fuller schedule. 

Take care of basic needs first

When your child gets home from a day at school meet basic needs first, such as:

• Hunger

• Thirst

• Rest

• Self care/Activities of Daily Living such as toileting, changing clothes if needed

Crunchy and chewy snacks, ice water, sipping through a small straw, changing into comfortable clothing, or taking a break in a hammock or blanket burrito can all help children regulate their nervous system after a long school day with a lot of sensory input. Making sure that they have used the restroom, are wearing comfortable clothing and are not hungry or thirsty can go a long way to helping them feel regulated. 

Communication

After school, give your child some time to regulate before communicating. Many times it can be helpful to offer a hug and a “I’m so happy to see you” with some time to settle in before discussing their day. When discussing their day it can also be helpful to ask more directed questions such as, “Who did you play with at recess?” or “What was something funny that happened today?” as opposed to the more open ended “How was your day?” Speech-Language Pathologists can help with communication partnership, receptive and expressive language to help support communication

Incorporate sensory input into transitions

It can be helpful to incorporate sensory input into the beginning of the day, when your child gets home from school, and at the end of the day. This includes things like heavy work, exercise, a quiet space, a weighted blanket or blanket burrito, time in a hammock or swing, fidgets, time with Play-Doh, and more. If you know your child benefits from quiet time to decompress, having a quiet corner available can be helpful. If you know they benefit from movement, having an obstacle course to navigate can be welcome. Occupational therapists can help identify your child’s sensory needs and develop a plan for sensory input that will work for your child and your home.

Spend time outside

After a day inside, with sometimes tricky input such as noisy cafeterias, minimal recess time, florescent lighting, extended time sitting, and more, spending time outside can help a child decompress and process their day. More exposure to nature seems to be associated with better self-regulation. Both natural daylight and physical activity relate to better mental health, and specifically better affective self-regulation. This can look like play time, relaxation time, snack time or even homework time outside. 

Helpful Tools

• Social Story

• Visual Schedule

• Visual Timers

• Making fidgets available

• Camping hammock or hammock chair

• Visual checklists for transitions

• Quiet spaces

Transitions can be a wonderful opportunity for new adventures, new friends and new growth all while also being overwhelming and challenging. Having a plan for the first few weeks back to school can help to support your child and your family as they process new information and navigate new experiences.

Occupational therapists and Speech-Language Pathologists can help a child and their family navigate transitions and adjust the environment to best support the child. If you have any questions, are interested in Occupational Therapy or Speech-Language Pathology services for your child or have a group suggestion for us, please don’t hesitate to reach out to 440-836-3838 or support@goodnatureohio.com!

Ref: https://robertsacademy.org/understanding-after-school-restraint-collapse-what-it-is-and-how-to-help-your-child/