With Spring Break happening in most schools across the nation, many parents are fearful of the transition to several days off, and then the shift back to school. All kids have a hard time with this adjustment, not just those with special needs. Here are some tips which I’ve found to be beneficial:

• Talk Talk Talk: Help your child understand that in “x days you will be home for five days,” then begin working back up to school resuming “in x days you get to go see your friends again.”
• Stay on Track: Your child will be off his/her normal routine, but try to keep some consistency. Keep meal times as close as possible to the time your child eats at school. If your child has rest time, honor that same time at home.
• Keep it low key: Try to limit the amount of activities you plan for your break. When kids are out of their normal routine they can be overloaded easily. Too many events can lead to a crabby kiddo.
• Enlist Help: Talk with your child’s teacher to see if he/she is willing to call your child the evening before school resumes, or write a note reminding them of something important they will do at school. You could also plan a special breakfast and invite one of your child’s friends.
• Check out Community Options: Many places schedule camps during Spring Break, and several free events are offered through the public library, community centers, and Special Services. Consider utilizing some of these to keep structure during your child’s time away from school.

These are just a few suggestions to help ease the transition, please share your ideas with us in the comments section.

photo by cuellar