As the school holidays end and we race towards the new year, ADHD families may be experiencing some level of anxiety. This can be highlighted if children are attending a school for the first time. Here are some tips to smooth the transition:
- Start aligning bedtime with school hours. if your child has been staying up and waking up later spend the last few days of the holiday moving their bedtime in increments so that the final 2 nights are back to school bedtimes with earlier mornings.
- Check on medication scripts. If they have had a break from meds during the school holidays, restart medications a few days before school starts to avoid potential mild side effects.
- Remind them of school routines, morning and evening. (Check the ADHD Go-To Guide for examples.)
- Ensure that school uniforms fit comfortably, and if it’s a new uniform have your child wear it for a day to check for sensory issues.
- Go through the school layout to ensure that your child knows where to go on the first day.
- Set up the school Launch Pad and Landing Pad ready to go for the first day back.
- Practise catching the bus / walking or cycling to school if the routes are new.
- Organise catch-ups with school friends if possible.
- Ask them what they’re looking forward to about school and start creating a positive picture for them. Get them excited about the new things they’ll be learning.
- Check that you’ve provided the school with any relevant information about your child’s ADHD and associated conditions.
- Ask the school how that information will be shared with teachers.
- Respectfully share useful strategies with teachers when you can (see 20 Tips for Teachers, ADHD Go-To Guide)