Transition from School to Summer Break



While summer break can be an exciting time and needed break for many children and parents, for children on the autism spectrum, the end of the school year can be a challenging time. The sudden change in routine, from structured school days to unpredictable leisurely days, can make for a stressful transition into summer. To help families better navigate this transition, here are some tips and ideas:


Make a Summer Schedule




Providing structure and routine is helpful in easing the anxiety often felt by children with ASD. While it may be helpful to maintain a regular daily schedule, it may not always be realistic. We recommend aiming to prioritize keeping mealtimes and bedtimes consistent, as these contribute to children’s overall mood. You may also consider creating a written or picture schedule for each day, similar to how a school may provide this visual tool. This allows the child to know what activities or events to anticipate. Most importantly, set flexible and reasonable expectations for yourself and your child.

Prepare for New Experiences




If you plan on enrolling your child into camps or activities like sports, art, music, swimming, etc, it may help to introduce your child to what they can expect before they participate. It may be useful to discuss what to expect and even do the activity with them so they can experience the activity with a trusted and familiar person. Going to the location in advance, so your child can start to be comfortable with the new environment, can also be very helpful in transitioning to a new activity. If you suspect an activity will be overwhelming due to sensory stimuli, then it would be appropriate to prepare them ahead of time. 

Social Stories




Social stories are a common visual tool used for people with ASD to understand social situations. It can help children be prepared for new situations and reduce anxiety. There are many resources and examples online. As well, you could make and customize your own social story that’s unique to your child (e.g., include pictures of people they will meet). Social stories can also include suggestions to how to handle and respond to a given situation, for example, if your child runs into an overwhelming situation. 

Take a look at this link for further information on social stories:

https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/social-stories-for-autistic-children/


- Gifted People Services 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Understanding Cerebral Palsy: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and Support

Image
  Understanding Cerebral Palsy: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and Support 2023/9/3   Introduction: Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a complex neurological disorder that affects movement, posture, and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage or abnormalities in the developing brain, usually occurring before or during birth. CP is a lifelong condition that varies in severity, impacting individuals differently. This blog aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of cerebral palsy, including its symptoms, causes, treatment options, and available support.     Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy: Motor Impairment: Spasticity: This refers to muscle stiffness and tightness, resulting in difficulty with movement and range of motion. Dyskinesia: It involves involuntary movements, such as uncontrollable writhing or jerking motions. Ataxia: Individuals with ataxia struggle with balance and coordination, leading to shaky...
Read more

Preparing for Vacation: Tips for Families with ASD

Image
  Going on vacation may seem like an overwhelming task for families with ASD. A trip, full of new and unpredictable experiences, though exciting and fulfilling, may seem out of reach. While it may take a lot of work to manage a smooth, successful trip, it will certainly be worthwhile for kids with ASD to experience new things as well as overcome the challenges of travelling. Luckily, there are many resources, both anecdotal and expert advice, that can help support you in preparing for your big trip. Here are a few of GPS’ tips: Be in tune with your child’s needs and set realistic expectations The first step to taking a vacation is planning it. In the midst of planning for a trip, it is important to consider your child’s needs, likes and dislikes. Plan for plenty of breaks and rest in between activities. It may also be a good idea to have a planner on the trip - it will be useful to see your planned out activities visually, and to take notes of what worked and didn’t work. Most imp...
Read more

GPS' Recommended Books About Autism

Image
With Autism Spectrum Disorder being a widely diagnosed neurodivergent disorder, there have been a variety of published books about ASD in recent years. These books offer inspiration, guidance and hope to the Autism community. While Autism is heavily supported with research and therapies, sometimes, storytelling can resonate better with parents and educators that interact with children with special needs. Therefore, we have compiled a list of books - for children and adults - that we think make a big impact. Children's Books Children love stories, and books about autism may be one of the best ways to explain to young readers what they may be experiencing. Below are three fiction picture books, which you can also find on Youtube. 1. All My Stripes: A Story for Children with Autism by Shaina Rudolph and Danielle Royer "In All My Stripes, Zane the zebra feels different from the rest of his classmates. He worries that all they notice about him is his "autism stripe." With...
Read more