July is drawing to a close and for parents of children with
autism, it’s a good time to start preparing for a child’s return
to school. The more time a child has to adjust to impending
changes in his or her routine, the better. Naturally, re-
establishing bedtime and waking hours are of the utmost
importance if they flew out the window with summer. If started
now and done gradually, it won’t be such a jarring experience.
To accustom a child to future homework, introduce quiet
activities for them like reading silently, reviewing what they
learned last year, journaling, etc. at the same hour you’ll be
having them do their mandated school assignments. As a
cautionary note — don’t let a child solely do preferred
activities or it won’t prepare them for homework. If a child
must wear a uniform or otherwise dress differently than they
normally would at home, have them get accustomed to it well in
advance. Stock up on seamless socks and tag-free items to avoid
sensory meltdowns. And be sure to label all those clothes