We are launching a 4-week IEP Bootcamp! If your child has an IEP or 504 Plan, join us for our IEP Bootcamp to receive daily tips and ideas delivered directly to your inbox daily for 21 days to help you review and prepare for a successful school year.
In order to get a glimpse of what you can expect from the Bootcamp we have taken three of our most popular tips and shared them below in this blog. As you can see by the Bootcamp will cover a wide array of topics including some that are pandemic related, IEP/504 Plan related, and so much more!
1. Prepare your child for upcoming changes.
If your child’s school was virtual last year or even if they just slipped into those relaxed days of summer, chances are their bedtime and morning routines are a bit lax. Depending on how much time you have before school starts again gradually move your child’s wake-up time closer to when they’ll need to get up for school. If they’ve been waking up at 10, 11 am, or even noon but have to get up at 6 am for school each morning try waking them up at 8 or 9 am a week or two before school. Even if summer camp starts at 9 so they can sleep until 7:30 change wake up time up to 6:45 a few weeks before school starts. It will be less of an abrupt change.
And while we’re talking about sleeping, one of the best things we can do for our mental health is to give our body the rest it needs. Here’s a great guide to how many hours of sleep our children need at each age: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/features/students-sleep.htm
Unfortunately, our teens' sleep needs rarely match with their school schedules. Just when they’re naturally becoming night owls they’re more likely to be required to start school earlier than before. If your child just can’t fall asleep in time to allow them to get their necessary 8 – 10 hours of sleep, help them balance their need to sleep in with the simplification of their morning routine. Encourage them to do as much prep work the night before so they can grab an extra 15 minutes of z’s. Teach them to put everything in their backpack at night, keep their shoes in the same place, and even set out their clothes. Grabbing a shower at night is a great way to help them relax before bed and even step away from a screen for a bit. Routines can be hard to establish but trying one thing for a few weeks and gradually adding in more can help new habits stick.
2. Support Your Child From a Distance
You’ve spent a lot of time with one another over the last 17 months. Even if your child can’t wait to get back to school, your time together created a norm and norms are comfortable. Think of something you enjoyed about being in the same space or something that provides your child comfort and find a way to include that in their school environment. Did your child develop a love of baking? Bake cookies together the weekend before school starts and put a few in their backpack for a treat at lunch. If you enjoyed a getaway someplace special like the beach or the mountains, look for a folder with mountain or ocean scenes and remind your child of that time together. Even if it’s something simple like the pens you kept on our desk that your child liked to “borrow” or a picture of the family dog you adopted during COVID, include something that reminds them of home to keep in their locker, backpack, or desk to remind them you’re always there.
3. Plan a check-up
Make a back-to-school appointment for your child with their doctor (medical or psychiatrist). Use this time to discuss sleep or eating concerns you may be worried about so you’re acting on medical facts. Your child may not be sleeping too much or maybe this is time for a growth spurt so that’s why your child is eating you out of the house and home. Your child’s doctor can provide you with information on developmental norms. Ask about puberty. If your child has a diagnosis, ask if you should expect any changes in behavior or medication due to these hormonal changes.
Get a note so your child can take their daytime meds at school if needed. Don’t forget to keep a copy for your records. If their medication needs to be taken on a full stomach, with a snack, must be taken at a specific time or can make them queasy be sure to have them make note of it.
Ask your child’s doctor if they’re comfortable providing your child with their medication refills if you’re having a hard time making appointments with or finding a psychiatrist. Many are willing to, especially ADHD or more commonly prescribed medications.
If your child currently does not have an IEP or 504 plan a diagnosis from your doctor with information about how that diagnosis affects your child will be needed to start a 504 plan discussion with your school.
Preparing to send your child back to school if they have an IEP or 504 plan can feel overwhelming. Our IEP Bootcamp is designed to give you a game plan for reviewing and preparing for a successful year. Knowledge is power which is why we selected these handcrafted tips, from parents and educational advocates and are offering to deliver them directly to your inbox every day.
Simply sign up and we will get you started from the beginning today!