If you have an autistic child starting school in the fall, here are some tips to promote a smooth transition.

1. Practice needed skills:

• Packing and unpacking lunch/opening and closing containers

• Zipping and unzipping backpack

• coat on and off (try the “flip trick” for those little arms!) For more information about the “Flip Trick” see here https://sjlittle.ca/preschool/coat-flip-trick/

• Shoes on and off

• Morning routine (get ready, eat breakfast, brush teeth, shoes on, out the door)

2. Talk about it often! Prime your child for school by talking about:

• What school might be like (e.g. teachers, kids, classroom, what they will learn, etc.)

• The order of events on school days (e.g. get ready, eat breakfast, go to school, say bye to parents, day at school, pick-up).  

• Any anxiety your child might have

Extra tip: Consider using a visual schedule or social story to talk about what will happen.

3. Act out tricky or new scenarios

• saying goodbye to mommy and daddy

• circle time and other school-type activities (consider joining a structured play group to create opportunity for further practice!)

• tricky situations with peers

4. Arrange a time for your child to meet educators and tour the school

5. Create an “All About Me” page

• Write out your child’s strengths and weaknesses, sensory issues, dietary restrictions, preferences. Let your child’s educators know what is unique about your child. This will go a long way as they get to know him/her!

6. Remember to reinforce

• Encourage your child’s attempts at trying new skills and tricky scenarios

• Instead of pointing out what they aren’t doing, focus on praising/rewarding any positive behaviour you see!

This information was provided by Registered Behaviour Analyst (RBA) Alisa Gagne. For more information about our behavioural therapy team call us at 519.751.0728 or email pathwaystohopebrant@gmail.com