By: Stephanie Schwindt, M.S., CCC-SLP
As the air becomes crisper and the leaves transform into bright hues of red, yellow, and orange, our community of school-age children prepare for another year of fun, learning, and growth. Whether attending a brick and mortar school, virtual school, or homeschool, each child is bound to experience emotions ranging from an anxious dread to a joyful elation. Wherever your child may fall, it is important to support them in navigating their feelings as they transition into their new daily routine!
Social Stories:
One way to help them navigate these feelings is to talk about what will happen in school before the year begins. Pictures depicting new routines, such as getting on a school bus, being in a classroom, or meeting a new friend, paired with a simple story, will go a long way in preparing their mind for changes. These “social stories,” developed and coined by Carol Gray in the early 1990s, serve as a tool to help individuals understand social situations and behaviors. Be sure to be very specific with the stories (related exactly to what your child will be doing). Also be sure to write in clear, concise language with a positive or neutral tone.
Here are some example sentences, which you would pair with visuals (easily found on Google, or you can make your own):
- Tomorrow is a special day because I am going to ride the bus for the first time. Riding the bus is a new experience, and it’s okay to feel nervous or excited.
- Tomorrow I am going to meet my new teacher for the first time. Meeting a teacher is exciting because they will help me learn and have fun at school.
- Tomorrow I might meet a new friend at school. Making new friends is fun and it will be exciting to go to school every day and see them. It’s normal to feel a bit shy at first. If I am not sure how to start a conversation or play a game, I can always ask for help from a teacher.
- You can talk about upcoming events in general, or take your child through every step of the way. Reading their own social stories may become their new favorite bedtime story!
Visual Schedules:
Another way to help your child navigate these feelings is to create a “visual schedule” together. Unlike social stories, which talk about the future in a narrative form and focus mainly on social interaction and emotions, a visual schedule lists their tasks one at a time, and they can check off or remove pictures (with the help of velcro!) as they go through their day. (If your child is attending a brick and mortar school, the teachers should know how to implement a visual schedule.) To make a visual schedule, first think of the timeline of events, beginning with getting ready for school in the morning.
For example, this schedule may mirror an elementary school day:
GET READY FOR SCHOOL → EAT BREAKFAST → TAKE THE BUS TO SCHOOL → MEET NEW TEACHERS AND FRIENDS → CIRCLE TIME → READING → SNACK → MATH → ART → LUNCH → RECESS → LIBRARY → SCIENCE → FREE CHOICE → TAKE THE BUS HOME
This schedule may mirror a homeschool day:
MORNING ROUTINE (GET READY, EAT BREAKFAST) → WRITING → READING → SNACK → MATH → LUNCH → OUTDOOR TIME → SCIENCE → SPECIAL INTERESTS (ART, MUSIC, FOREIGN LANGUAGE, ROBOTICS, ETC.) → REVIEW AND REFLECTION OF DAY
On days when your child may receive related services (speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, etc.), just add another picture to the visual schedule. Collaborate with your child’s teacher(s) to get information about the schedule and ensure it is being used throughout the day. Teachers, speech/occupational therapists, and paraprofessionals love visual schedules for students, so don’t be afraid to ask them to make one (the author of this blog is speaking from experience!).
Of course, visual schedules and social stories are not strictly for school-only. Creating a visual schedule for after-school activities and weekends (play time, dinner, bedtime routine, etc.) and social stories for upcoming events (visiting grandparents, going to the beach, attending someone’s birthday party, going to the dentist, etc.) is a fantastic way to help your child – and your family – organize their days and their minds.
If you want, make a visual schedule for yourself, too! It feels really good to check off the boxes, and you can end your day feeling accomplished.
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