by Joanna L. Keating-Velasco
Typically, September brings an end to summer and the start of a new school year. While some kids love going back-to-school shopping, for families impacted by autism, this can be more of a chore. There are so many things to buy: binders, pencils, backpacks, lunch bags, clothes, etc. Sometimes you get lucky and receive a specific list from the teacher. While this might make your shopping trip easier, the lists are still somewhat general.
We know what needs to be done, but in families with autism, many obstacles can come into play. The child may have no interest in this experience. Many parents simply buy all of the supplies for their child, because they know their child’s likes or dislikes. They know that a trip to Walmart is likely to buy them a meltdown as opposed to a new backpack. While I fully understand that challenge, I do recommend taking some contemplation with this process.
Many of you have kids who are mainstreamed or integrated into typical classrooms; so the point of this article is to recommend you consider your child’s age and typical peers when shopping. Perhaps a sibling can help pick out what is age-appropriate for your child with autism. Although your fourteen-year-old might really enjoy Dora the Explorer, having a Dora backpack in high school might limit some interaction with typical peers. Right or wrong, we all know first impressions exist. For teens, I would highly recommend something like a Jansport backpack. They are reasonably priced, well-built and come in a variety of styles/colors. She can express her likes for Dora in something smaller that doesn’t scream so socially – “age inappropriate!”
If you don’t have a sibling to help you find what’s “cool” for your child’s age group, just spend a few moments in a store’s school supply aisle and see what other kids his age are buying. It’s not that your child should not have his own individuality in his dress or school supplies, but sometimes kids need advice or suggestions. For kids who don’t do well with social stuff, helping them feel more confident on the first day of school might give them a little bit of an edge to meeting new classmates or feeling like they fit in a little better.
The same goes for clothes. Although many kids on the spectrum have sensory needs with clothing, try to keep in mind that you also want to consider helping your child fit in to the typical school environment. If they are really into a preschool cartoon character, perhaps they can express it in a less noticeable way while avoiding their clothing publicly blasting this information. I think a child should feel happy and comfortable in what they wear and also with their supplies, but at the same time, it is also important to give them social support. Some of these ideas can help kids on the spectrum be more approachable on the playground or at break.
Best wishes and happy back-to-school!
About Tiffani Lawton, R.N.
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