So today I've been working on the Fall Newsletter. It is somewhat surreal to be creating an invitation to a Holiday Party on one of the hottest days of the year! My hope is to have the newsletter ready by next week. It's always a challenge to get activities booked, consultants lined up and this fall it is complicated by the impending move to a new location. At this point we think it will be in October, so support groups and other groups may be held here in September and then there will be a bit of disruption as we make the move. Bear with us and be ready for some impromptu changes when the big week arrives!
A few more weeks of summer then it will be back to school. I'm always shocked now when kids head back before August is over, having grown up in the era when school always started the Wednesday after Labor Day.
Now is when you may want to start the transition back to school day schedules. Summer lends itself to later bed times and later risings, creating a shock when the 1st day of school arrives and kids have to get out of bed at the crack of dawn. Additionally new teachers, new school or classrooms can all result in anxiety making back to school fraught with tension.
Begin by slowly setting bedtime back to what will be the norm for school nights, and as much as that second cup of coffee before they wake up is desired, start waking kids up moving the time back gradually to school wake up time.
I know I have seen folks announcing on Facebook who the new teachers are for their kids. If the school has a visit day before the first day of school, you can help your child feel less overwhelmed by visiting & meeting their new teachers before that big day. New School? It may help to take pictures of the path into the classroom and create a social story for your child. Same with new faces, teachers aides etc.
If you can sending an introductory e-mail to new teachers can be helpful. Introducing yourself and a bit about your child. Likes, dislikes, code words and phobias are all good information to share. It's also a good time to review your child's IEP and be sure that the goals are still valid and set up a TEAM meeting early in the year to meet and review it together, amending the IEP if needed.
Staying calm and positive sets the tone for your child. They are natural empaths and if you are frazzled they will pick up on it, and take that with them to school. So set up a school station, where there are hooks for backpacks, shoes and outerwear so they can be ready to go out the door without a search party ! A white board and calendar is also a great way to help kids feel in control, visuals matter!
With all that being said, we've still a few more weeks of fun, LAserCraze for Teens & young adults, A Friends & Family movie and a day at the Ecotarium are coming up. AND for the grownups we've Wild About Wine on September 21st Register on our website for kids activities and
here for our Adult only event!
Have a great week
Sue