1. Arrange playdates with peers that will be in your child’s class
- All parents want their children to be comfortable before the new school year, so call other parents and schedule times to get together before the year begins. Do not put any expectations for this playdate on your child, and reward their efforts afterward!
- Start with only meeting one new peer at a time. Slowly, you can begin to introduce more peers to the playdates!
2. Spend time on the school grounds during the summer
- Use your school’s field or playground area throughout the summer to build comfort and confidence on school grounds. Recess and gym are often tough for many individuals with SM. Practicing sports and skills on school grounds helps to build confidence and self-esteem and lowers anxiety for your child.
- Bring friends or invite some of your playdates to join you on the school grounds to help improve social confidence as well!
3. Walk throughout the school as much as possible
- Some schools are open during the summer, so start as soon as possible. For schools that are closed, start to “walk the halls” and spend time in your child’s classroom(s) as soon as the school reopens for the year.
4. Speak to your child while in the school
- When walking the school with your child, talk to them while accepting their social communication stage. With asking more choice questions, many individuals will respond verbally. If they are not responding, do not push them. Simply speak to your child while in the school. Since others are not around, your child will most likely begin to verbalize very soon.
- The goal is for your child to see and hear themselves speaking in a school environment.
5. Spend time in the classroom
- While in the classroom, talk to your child about the fun things they’ll be doing during school. Ask questions regarding props in the room. The goal is to establish communication in the school.
