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How Can Parents Help Their Children with Autism and Anxiety Experience a Better School Year?
Getting ready for a new school year can be an exciting and overwhelming time for kids and teens with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The changes and challenges that come with a new approaching school season can be a lot to handle, causing more anxiety in many on the spectrum. This increased anxiety can exacerbate their ASD symptoms, making academic life even more difficult for these individuals and those closest to them.
In many cases, these facts leave parents to consider how they can help their children with autism and anxiety experience a better school year.
Many caregivers find success in managing their ASD child’s anxiety surrounding school readiness by utilizing ABA therapy, also called Applied Behavior Analysis, alongside its principles and ABA parent training. Over time, those receiving ABA care with ASD learn the skills necessary to attend school, make better associations with it, and demonstrate more independence.
This blog by ABA Centers of Virginia offers caregivers ABA strategies for easing their children and teenagers’ transition into the new school year. We will also explore the relationship between autism and anxiety more comprehensively. Finally, we will discuss the role ABA therapy can play in helping individuals on the spectrum manage their stress to improve their school readiness skills, academic experiences, and overall development.
We hope this blog offers parents, caregivers, and autism allies insight into how they can support their loved ones with ASD in handling school-related worries and fostering a more positive outlook toward attending school for better academic outcomes.
Ultimately, getting ready for school should be fun and less stressful, regardless of whether your family is neurodiverse. So, please keep reading to learn more valuable information on this topic and how it impacts so many families within the autism community.
Visit here for more information about ABA Centers of Virginia. We serve areas including Alexandria and Fairfax. Click here to read other blogs about autism, ABA, and diagnostic support.
The Characteristics of Autism
According to Autism Speaks, autism is a complex developmental condition that affects an individual’s functioning to varying degrees. Clinicians refer to autism as a “spectrum” disorder because it includes a wide range of behaviors and symptoms that can present significantly differently from one person to another.
The DSM-V characterizes that ASD impacts the following areas of a patient’s life:
- Communication: challenges with understanding and using language, gestures, and facial expressions.
- Social interaction: difficulty reading social cues or understanding the perspectives of others.
- Behavior: exhibiting complex repetitive movements or actions, also demonstrating extreme preferences for routines and sameness.
While the above is the most common clinical criteria that must be present to receive an ASD diagnosis, many other ASD symptoms can accompany the person’s experience. While roughly 40% of individuals with autism experience anxiety symptoms, it’s not a core feature of the diagnosis, however universal.
Additionally, many on the spectrum also struggle with sensory sensitivities.
Understanding Autism and Anxiety Effects on School Readiness
Autism can significantly impact a child’s education due to difficulties related to communication, social interaction, and behavior. These challenges can make it harder for ASD students to understand instructions from teachers, participate in group activities or discussions, and adapt to changes in their daily routines.
For individuals with autism, anxiety can also increase their difficulties during school. The new scenery, unfamiliar faces, and transitions can all act as triggers in ASD. These triggers can inadvertently heighten the expression of complex or maladaptive behavior in ASD, like aggression or elopement, for example.
Additionally, sensory sensitivities can cause distractions in the classroom that affect learning. For example, without intervention or accommodations, an ASD student may begin to scream if the lights are too bright.
Finally, individuals with ASD may struggle with executive functioning skills, which are also crucial for school success. These skills include planning, organizing, time management, and problem-solving. Fortunately, by understanding these distinct features of autism, caregivers and educators can support their students with ASD in better ways during potential academic hurdles.
Anxiety Symptoms in Autism
Signs that anxiety might be mounting among individuals with ASD before school include:
- Insomnia or increased fatigue
- Fluctuating moods
- Altered eating patterns
- Heightened inflexibility and aversion to change
- Increased sensitivity to sensory stimuli
- Physical problems like headaches and stomachaches
- Irritability or withdrawal
As caregivers, it is essential to recognize these signs and seek professional guidance if necessary. Early intervention ABA can help prevent anxiety from escalating into more severe challenges that may impact the individual’s future success and safety in school and life.
ABA Therapy for Managing Autism and Anxiety to Improve the New School Year
For many, ABA therapy plays a crucial role in preparing children with autism for school. ABA therapy focuses on improving specific behaviors associated with ASD to ensure better life outcomes and school readiness.
ABA professionals, such as Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), apply ABA principles to create individualized ABA plans for ASD individuals. These customized plans include strategies for addressing anxiety, enhancing focus, and improving social interactions if those are core deficits.
Moreover, ABA therapy equips children with the tools they need to manage school-related stressors, enabling them to request breaks or express discomfort appropriately instead of resorting to complex behavior patterns to meet their needs.
Additionally, ABA helps children express their interests, showcase their talents, and interact effectively with peers and educators through role-playing and skill practice. Ultimately, ABA providers help ASD students refine essential skill sets for more positive school days and general well-being wherever they are.
9 ABA Strategies to Boost School Readiness for Children With ASD
Here are some methods caregivers and ABA providers can use to enhance school readiness in neurodivergent kids. However, parents should ask their child’s ABA team for support in understanding and tailoring these tools to meet the child’s specific needs and areas requiring assistance:
- Use Visual Schedules: Visual schedules are standard tools that reduce anxiety and help establish predictability in ASD. Utilize pictures or symbols to outline the daily routine, including drop-off and pick-up times.
- School Visit Preparation: Arrange a pre-school visit to acclimate your child to the new environment. Meet the teacher and go over your child’s daily routine together.
- School Readiness Reading: Read children’s books about starting school to ease worries and set expectations.
- Home Practice of School Routines: Role-play school activities like turn-taking, raising hands, and following directions to boost your child’s confidence using these behaviors.
- Create a Calming Sensory Tool Kit: Assemble a bag with items like fidget toys, stress balls, or noise-canceling headphones to calm and soothe your child. When possible, ensure these items are not disruptive to the classroom atmosphere so your child can bring them along.
- Foster Social Connections: Facilitate friendships by organizing playdates or joining ASD-friendly activities after school to help your child interact with peers who share similar interests.
- Acknowledge Achievements: Celebrate your child’s successes, no matter how small, to encourage them to try new things!
- Use Positive Reinforcement: Implement verbal praise, tokens, or other highly motivating rewards to reinforce appropriate behaviors in school.
- Patience and Flexibility: Recognize that each child with ASD progresses differently. Be patient and communicate concerns with teachers and ABA providers.
Meaningful Communication between Educators And ASD Caregivers
Establishing effective communication between caregivers and educators of individuals on the spectrum plays a pivotal role in managing symptoms and anxiety in students with autism. Creating a solid communication channel ensures a cohesive approach among everyone involved in the child’s care, ensuring they receive the necessary support to thrive.
To initiate meaningful communication with your child’s educators, arrange a meeting with their teachers, school counselors, and other relevant staff members before the school year starts. Use this opportunity to discuss your child’s specific needs, triggers, and practical strategies. Providing detailed information about your child’s preferences and challenges enables the school to offer more tailored support.
This joint effort facilitates the prompt resolution of any issues that may arise, ensuring a continuous support network for the ASD student throughout the academic year.
Embarking on a Fresh School Year with Autism and Less Anxiety!
While the beginning of a new school year may pose challenges for kids and teens with autism, by addressing anxiety in loved ones through ABA therapy, parents can help their ASD loved ones have better classroom experiences.
Ultimately, every child with autism deserves to excel academically and socially. Fortunately, this is possible by fostering open communication, practicing patience, and receiving ABA support both at home and in school whenever possible.
Lastly, remember to acknowledge your child’s progress and believe in their potential for success!
So, let’s gear up for a fantastic school year ahead!
Learning School Readiness with ABA Centers of Virginia!
ABA Centers of Virginia specializes in delivering ABA therapy to improve school readiness and other aspects of healthy development in children and teenagers with autism. Our incredible team of ABA providers commits to supporting your ASD child’s success in diverse settings, including at home or in school settings, whenever possible.
Our ASD services also encompass:
- In-home ABA sessions
- Autism Assessment and Diagnostic Services
- ABA Parent Training
To learn more about ABA Centers of Virginia’s approach to ABA care, connect with us via this link or call (855) 957-1892.
Let’s collaborate to enhance your child’s educational experiences.
