Coping with Back-to-School Challenges for Special Needs Kids During COVID-19

Stay Calm

The minute I start to feel stressed, my stepson can tell and his behavior mirrors it back two-fold. So in our family, we have learned to model calm behavior that projects love, support, and confidence that we will all be okay. When I notice my stepson acting in negative ways, I stop, take a breath, and calmly reassure him that he is a good boy and we are all fine. This helps to lower everyone’s anxiety.

Stay Organized

Keep a daily calendar with each day’s therapies, Zoom classes, and meetings so you know where you have to be during each hour -- and when you get a break! Set up a binder or folder to keep all the paperwork organized. Keep your child's special education documentation, meeting notices, and IEPs in sequential order so you can reach for any of them at a moment’s notice.

Maintain a Schedule

Consistent routines around school, exercise, play, and sleep really help create structure during the day. Plan a schedule around the times your child is in online learning, and also include the times you need to work, prepare meals, or recharge for yourself. I have found that sticking to the same morning routine every day, even on weekends and holidays, helps my stepson ease into the school day with less fuss.

Continue Services

As much as possible, try to keep up with the services and one-on-one therapies that are available to you. Ask questions of the therapists and be as involved as you can. It has not been easy to juggle work with my stepson’s online school schedule. But I know his long-term growth requires that we stay on track, trying to build consistently on the skills he has.

Build Skills at Home

I have learned a lot by participating in the remote therapies available. I am not an expert by any means, but I am finding lots of ways to help build skills at home. Our home is full of opportunities to teach essential life skills that will help my stepson become more independent. He now makes his bed every morning, and (sloppily) makes his own sandwich for lunch. Observing his virtual lessons has shown me ways I can reinforce communication, fine motor skills, and gross motor coordination in all kinds of ways while we are together at home.

Communicate with School

The experts at school have been so helpful with tips, motivation, and advice. We feel very lucky that we have been able to communicate concerns and questions to the staff at school. Their expertise helps us coordinate an at-home plan for progress while in-person therapies are suspended.