Back To School for 2025
Just like that, the 2024 school summer break is over. For all the neurodivergent families preparing to tackle their first, last or yet another year of school, the anxiety is real so go easy on your little (or big) ND people including yourself.
These are my recommendations, in no particular order, to help you navigate the first week of back to school with your neurodivergent kiddos:
Do the photo shots on another day. The second day or the second week of school still counts as the beginning of a new school year.
If you can arrange an early pick up on the first day or, better still the first week, do it.
Pack your child food that they will want to eat, that they can unwrap without help, and that they can eat relatively quickly (maximum time for playing).
Pack a frozen drink ideally in a cardboard carton like a juice box, even if it isn’t fully thawed holding and squeezing a frozen cold drink will help to regulate the nervous system.
Don’t ask them “How was your day?” when you pick them up. This is an unnecessary demand that may result in a meltdown. Instead, tell them that “I am glad to see you”.
Don’t be surprised if they want to talk about school right at the end of the day at bedtime or when they are more relaxed like during or after their bath or shower. Remember this is a way for them to download an emotion and not the ideal time to question or problem solve. Instead thank them for sharing their experience and acknowledge how that must have felt. Revisit this with them the next day to problem solve only if necessary.
Have food ready (that they will want to eat) when you pick them up.
Lower the demands at home for a while by helping them with tasks that they may be able to do but appear to be struggling with, such as unpacking and packing their school bag.
Trust that they will adjust to their new school, class, or environment soon and be able to contribute to home tasks soon enough.
Don’t tell them that they will have a ‘good day’ or that ‘school is fun’ because you can’t control their experiences. It is better to say “Changes are hard and there is a lot of new things happening right now. We (you, your teacher, and me) can work this out together as a team”.
Let your child know they are in your thoughts during their day at school. A good way to do this is to give them a transitional object that has significance to you both, such as a smooth stone collected during a summer holiday to keep in their pocket to feel, a handkerchief with your fragrance on it, or a little note in their lunch box to make them smile.
Provide plenty of wind down time before bed. This could be a warm bath, a cool drink, listening to music, sharing a story, drawing, colouring, or building with Lego.
Remember to care for yourself also. The more rested you are, the better you will be at sharing your calm.
Please remember we were never meant to do this job alone. Reach out to others if you need extra support like getting your kids to school or advocating for their needs.
Belinda is a neurodivergent Educational & Developmental psychologist with extensive personal and professional experience supporting her own and other neurodivergent families to navigate the complexities of school, home, and the wider community to better understand and provide for neurodivergent learners.
If you want to learn more about how you can work with your family, you can contact Badger’s Place to make an appointment. You can also read more about the services we offer, by following this link to our Services summary.
