{"id":4348,"date":"2023-04-10T10:00:34","date_gmt":"2023-04-10T10:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/empiriantherapy.com\/?p=4348"},"modified":"2023-11-06T21:29:15","modified_gmt":"2023-11-06T21:29:15","slug":"returning-to-school-after-a-long-break","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/empiriantherapy.com\/returning-to-school-after-a-long-break\/","title":{"rendered":"Returning to School After a Long Break"},"content":{"rendered":"

So your child has just been away from school for a while, and you\u2019re <\/span>dreading<\/span><\/i> that transition back to normal life.<\/span><\/p>\n

While everyone loves vacation and breaks from school, the adjustment of returning to a structured routine after a long hiatus can be a large challenge for many children\u2014especially those with special needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

A lot of parents face this scenario in some form or another\u2014whether it\u2019s due to a personal event like a family vacation, or due to a collective experience such as a holiday break.<\/span><\/p>\n

If your child is about to return to school after a long break, there are several things you should be aware of and take into consideration in order to help make the experience as smooth and painless as possible for everyone involved.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Is This an Issue?
\n<\/b>During childhood, <\/span>any <\/span><\/i>significant change gets noticed and felt\u2014whether for good or for bad. Coming back to school after a long break can pose difficult challenges for children in ways that many of us might never even realize.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many children find the rigidity of school to be a burden and will have negative feelings about leaving a potentially more \u201cfun\u201d environment (such as a vacation) for a more \u201cserious\u201d one like the classroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

For children with special needs, these feelings can be exacerbated even further. One of the key characteristics of autism, for example, is difficulty with transitions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Children with other developmental disabilities, anxiety, and\/or sensory sensitivities may also struggle with additional levels of difficulty with change and transitions, too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Needs to Be Done
\n<\/b>First and foremost, it\u2019s important for parents to recognize this challenge and demonstrate an awareness and interest in addressing what your child is going through.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding what kinds of feelings your child might be up against is always an important first step in trying to help\u2014and this is no exception.<\/span><\/p>\n

With that part clear, the key to minimizing the struggle is <\/span>increasing your child\u2019s comfort level <\/b>with what is going to be happening. The best way to achieve that is to make them feel aware of what to expect, which will hopefully make them feel less worried or concerned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Every potential challenge is also a potential opportunity for learning and growth. Here is how you can take advantage of that insight, through each and every step of the returning process.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the Time Away<\/em>
\n<\/i><\/b>The first step towards making your child\u2019s return more comfortable is to preemptively start preparing them for it <\/span>during the absence.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

A few ways to do that include:<\/span><\/p>\n