Back to School with Special Needs: Helping Your Child Navigate the Transition
Back-to-school season can bring a mix of excitement, anticipation and nerves for any family. For parents and caregivers of children with special needs, however, the transition can come with additional uncertainty and anxiety.
Dianne Hartwig, Nurse Practitioner at HAPPI Health’s Special Needs Clinic, understands how challenging this time of year can be—especially for families of children who may be nonverbal or have difficulty communicating what they experienced during their school day.
“The anxiety of that is just a lot more intense, especially if you have a child that’s nonverbal that can’t really tell you how their day was or what happened at school,” Hartwig said.
While every child and family is different, there are several ways parents and caregivers can help make the transition back to school a little easier.
Talk About What to Expect
Preparing your child for upcoming changes can help make the transition feel more manageable.
Talk about going back to school, what their day may look like and the routines they can expect. Depending on your child’s needs, you might discuss things like getting ready in the morning, riding the bus or being dropped off, going into the classroom, eating lunch and coming home.
At the same time, Hartwig encourages parents to be honest about the things they don’t know yet.
Schools may still be finalizing teachers, classrooms, schedules or other details leading up to the first day. If you don’t know who your child’s teacher will be or exactly what their day will look like, it’s okay to tell them that.
Being honest gives your child an opportunity to begin processing those unknowns rather than preparing them for something that may change.
Give Yourself Grace
The first few days—or even weeks—of a new school year may be challenging. Routines are changing, expectations are different and everyone is adjusting.
Hartwig’s biggest piece of advice for families is simple: give yourself some grace.
“It’s going to be tough at first, and that’s okay,” she said. “It’s okay to go back to survival mode for a little bit and just try to get through the first few days.”
Not everything has to go perfectly. Allow yourself and your child time to figure out what works for your family as you settle into a new routine.
Make Time to Decompress After School
A full school day can be a lot to process. When your child gets home, they may need time and space before transitioning into homework, activities, chores or other responsibilities.
Hartwig recommends allowing children to decompress after school. That could mean spending some quiet time alone, enjoying a favorite activity or simply having fewer demands placed on them for a little while.
Pay attention to what helps your child regulate and recover from their day.
Watch for Changes in Behavior
Parents and caregivers know their children best. During the transition back to school, continue watching for changes in your child’s behavior, mood or personality.
For children who are nonverbal or have difficulty communicating, behavioral changes may be one way they express that something is different or that they are struggling with a new situation.
“Anything that’s different about them, then that could be a sign you need to look into things a little further,” Hartwig said.
A change doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong, but noticing patterns can help parents determine when it may be helpful to ask additional questions or seek support.
Remember the Positives of Going Back to School
Although the transition can be stressful, returning to school can also provide something many children with special needs benefit from: routine.
School gives children opportunities to see friends, meet new people, participate in different activities and continue learning in a structured environment.
“Most of our kids need routine, and so school is just a great place for that,” Hartwig said. “A lot of the kids just love school.”
Once those first-day nerves begin to settle and a new routine takes shape, school can become a familiar and exciting part of a child’s day again.
More from HAPPI Health’s Special Needs Clinic Coming Soon
Every child deserves healthcare that recognizes their individual needs, and every family deserves to feel supported along the way.
Stay tuned for more from the HAPPI Special Needs Clinic! We’ll be sharing more information soon about our clinic, the services we provide and how HAPPI Health works to support children with special needs and their families.
At HAPPI Health, we’re committed to providing accessible, high-quality care to the communities we serve—and helping every patient and family feel supported through every stage of life.
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