Navigating Back to School
The school year will be starting soon in my area(if it hasn’t started in other parts of the country). The end of summer and the beginning of the school year bring on a lot of emotions. We all realize the sadness many feel we feel as we say goodbye to summer and go back to structure. Some people struggle with moving into cooler and less sunlight that comes with Fall. However, for neurodivergent people, this transition can be extremely difficult.
It is important to note that back-to-school impacts more than students. The beginning of a school year impacts parents/guardians, educators, siblings of school-aged children, and any caregivers like nannies and babysitters. We have to transition back to waking up early, catching the bus, long days filled with unpredictability, homework, and extracurricular activities. People who are neurodivergent and/or have mental health issues struggle with overstimulation, stress management, transitions, socialization, attention, and emotional regulation. Here’s some ways to support these people this school year.
Give Them Time:
Children and adults who are neurodivergent need more time to process changes. Struggling with change is a hallmark of Autism Spectrum Disorders. It is also one of the executive functions impacted by ADHD. These people struggle with shifting thinking daily, so a change like restarting school after months off can be extra challenging. While neurotypicals might have some difficulties that resolve within a few weeks, neurodivergent might have more intense challenges that last longer. Although this might be frustrating, it’s important to realize they are doing the best they can. Try to be patient with them and never shame them for not adjusting as well as other people.
Schedule Out their Days:
Creating a schedule that limits overwhelm can be beneficial. Many of these people struggle with time and stress management. Spacing out time can help them see what they need to get done within the day. This will allow them to tackle priorities and also experience fun!
Be an Active Listener:
This population really thrives off listening. People with conditions like ADHD are often yelled at for behaviors they have little to no control over. This can lead to an increase in defiance in children and anger in adults. It’s key to remember what they can and cannot control. Although setting boundaries and giving directions are necessary, taking time to listen to their experiences can help them in difficult moments.
Seek Help:
If all this doesn’t suffice, professional help might be a good idea. Seeking help from psychologists, therapists, counselors or coaches can help give more guidance to navigating this. These people are trained in understanding how different brains work and can give you specialized advice to work through issues associated with change.
I hope this helps. We have to remember we all process the world in different ways and that’s ok! We often underestimate how challenging it is to deal with changes to our schedule with activities, sleep, and socialization as well as weather and sunlight changes. Taking time to walk through this and not force people to process it faster is helpful. I hope everyone has an easier time transitioning into a new season with some positive changes to how we navigate it!
