BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS

These have worked for our family.

1. Start waking up at the time they would for school.  Also, go through the routine of getting ready to help with transition.

2. Pack a snack or lunch in the lunch box.  We actually just purchased a new one.  If your child is on the GF/CF diet, write that on the inside of the lunch box with a permanent marker.

3. Start talking to your child about school starting.  Perhaps even number the days on the calendar until the first day.  Talk about things that might happen at school.

4. If they are not currently doing activities or therapies that would involve reading or writing, try doing just a few minutes each day and increase.  It is easy to loses the motor strength to write for as long as they are asked to at school.  When doing these activities try to do them at a desk or even the kitchen table to simulate a classroom setting.

5. Try not to stress.  Our son reads my stress as if it was posted on a billboard.  We can often in our effort to nurture and protect them, not see what they are really capable of doing.

6. When school does start.  Try to schedule something for your self.  I'm not talking about being selfish, I'm talking about refueling your soul.  We pour so much into our children (special needs and "typical") that often we drain our deepest reserves of energy.  During this summer for the most part I have put myself on hold.  The Tuesday that school starts, I go for the first haircut I've had since early June.  Meet someone for coffee, have lunch with a friend, buy a new top, or if you are looking for no budget.  Try window shopping, go for a long walk, chat on the phone with a friend, start reading one of the books that is in your "want to read" stack.  You can't provide the BEST care for your child if you are running on empty.