Parents getting ready to send little ones off to school experience mixed emotions. As a parent with a disability, the experience isn’t any different.
During the time of a pandemic, it can seem even more nerve-wracking. Safety concerns are now more common. We need to take precautions for our children and family like never before. While keeping this in mind, don’t lose sight of the adventure school can be for our students. This is an exciting time in both you and your child’s lives. The learning and growth of our children that happens each year molds them into the adults of the future. Making preparations before the first day of school is sure to help create wonderful memories. Here are some ideas to help you get through the first few weeks of a new school year.
As parents, we are our children’s first teachers. When our kids go to school, their teachers add a layer to that learning. Although going back to school looks different now because of the pandemic, it’s important to encourage your child to do their best and enjoy the experience.
“Meet the Teacher” is typically the first thing that happens before the school year starts. This is a critical time to speak with your child’s teacher so you know their expectations of your student. It’s a good idea to work with them to form a collaboration. During this meeting, teachers can be reassured you are there to help your child while also being a source of support to them. The collaboration you form can greatly benefit your child throughout the school year.
A valuable strategy you can use to get your child ready for school is implementing a routine at home. Routines can be of great assistance to our children for many reasons. They provide a sense of security and certainty to how they are expected to behave. Routines also provide a schedule that lets students know the amount of time they have to complete specific tasks. Routines are also helpful for students so they can anticipate what comes next in their day at home and school.Â
Don’t be afraid to be an involved parent in your child’s education. When people see you have a disability, it opens up avenues of communication. It allows people to ask questions they may otherwise be afraid to ask. As a result, your interaction with them can even dispel stereotypes they might have about people with disabilities.
Keeping up with your child’s assignments and adding to their learning experience can enhance your student’s education. Working with your child’s teacher to find out what’s going on in the classroom can be helpful in many ways. Being informed about classroom goals gives you an opportunity to implement certain activities at home. Games and television shows can be chosen that are geared toward ideas being taught in school. This gives your child a chance to practice what they’re learning at school on weekends. These activities can provide reinforcement of important concepts. As a result, kids can be better prepared for the materials being covered in the classroom.
This year some parents have decided to use the distance learning option offered by certain school districts because it is the best choice for their family. Setting up a separate space for learning at home is a great idea. It helps kids stay focused on their schoolwork. Having a morning  and after school routine is another good way to put your child in learning mode. This gives kids an opportunity to prepare themselves for interacting with their teacher virtually. They can also have set activities to help them wind down at the end of the day.
Due to the nature of the pandemic, technology is being used more frequently and is more acceptable than ever before. The truth is, it has always been there to lend parents with a disability a helping hand. Technology can become your best friend to make communicating with your child’s teacher easier. Things like Skype, email or even the phone can help you schedule conferences or quick chats to stay in the loop of what’s going on with your child’s progress in the classroom.
Having open communication with your child’s teacher using these techniques will help increase your child’s educational success. If your child happens to encounter issues at school that need to be addressed, knowing all expectations beforehand makes it easier not only to troubleshoot problems, but increases the chances of promptly remedying the issue.
These are straightforward ideas available to anyone. However, when you are faced with certain situations, you may not be sure where to begin. Hopefully, you will use this as a survival guide or the beginnings of a road map that can help you come up with something similar that works best for you and your family.