Back to School Must Haves

Back to School is a time of transition.  This means that our neurodivergent children are going to be going through A LOT and bringing home A LOT!  During times of transition, you can guarantee big emotions and undesirable behavior.  There are definitely ways that you can help support them through this and make everyone’s day a little bit smoother.

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Countdown Clock

This simple countdown clock keeps kids on track and out the door without having you, the parent constantly reminding them to keep moving. It helps to prevent you from feeling like you are dragging them through the morning process.  This will leave everyone happier and with a lot less bickering in the morning routine - this sets up a great mental space for EVERYONE to start the day.

How to use it: Set the clock for a set amount of time for each task. Once the task is complete set it for a designated amount of ‘play"‘ time. If they complete a task before the timer goes off, then let them play for the remainder of the set time. Repeat!

Visual Schedule

A new year means a new schedule. Not knowing what the day looks like can create so much anxiety and fear within children, especially children who need to work extra hard at regulating themselves. A visual scheduler is a great way for children to ‘see’ their day ahead and begin to mentally prepare themselves. 

A Rocker Board

Rocker Boards get those joints moving and their bodies in alignment before school. Joints in action help release epinephrine throughout the body, a happy neurotransmitter. Send them out the door with good feelings.  These are great tools for before and during the school day!

Weighted Blankets

The pressure of a weighted blanket is like sleeping in a big hug. The heaviness and pressure decrease the heart rate lowers one's breathing allowing the body a chance to calm down enough for a good night's sleep. A good night's sleep can help a child focus, self-regulate, decrease hyperactivity and increase positive actions throughout the day. Snag a small lap blanket for the school day to help a child sit and decrease fidgeting movements in times of needed focus.

Busy Band

A busy band is the perfect at-school fidget toy for those squirmy feet. Sensory Seekers and ADHD children tend to squirm and fidget more so than ‘typical’ children. Movement, squirming, and fidgeting, allow the brain to filter out irrelevant information and focus on the task at hand. This sensory input and filtration provide support for the brain to organize incoming sensory information to be used appropriately. Having a fidget band at the breakfast table will help a child focus on the meal in front of them, or at their desk, providing them a strong opportunity to focus on the lesson and school demands. 

Pro tip: Fifteen minutes of intentional joint activities can provide a child with 2 hours of focused regulation.

*Grab your official Parenting That Kid Busy Band and Activity Book here

These are all tools that I use with my children within my home to help them regulate their emotions and navigate tough behavior.  For more resources for parenting a child with ADHD, Autism, Sensory struggles, and more check out the podcast, blog, and mentoring program!