Aspergers Kids: Coping with Transitions at School

"According to the teacher, my child with Asperger's Syndrome tends to have a difficult time moving from one activity to the next (for example, from writing skills to Math problems to recreation time). Do you have any suggestions as to how his teacher can make these transitions less stressful for him?"

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Comments

Anonymous said…
We just moved to NC from AZ last June. Since then, we've rented then bought a house so our daughter has attended 2 schools this year. My experience has been to keep the majority of what you can "routine" while anticipating the reactions of everything else. Not easy, but some structure is better than none!!
June 16, 2012 at 7:28 AM
Anonymous said…
We are a military family about to move...this will be our first move in three years and our first since our diagnosis...it wouldn't be a big deal if we were headed right into housing, however...there is a 6-9mo waiting list and my Aspie is not doing well. We will head to a hotel, then arrange for short term housing then move again into base housing...any suggestions....this is already awful...and getting worse
June 16, 2012 at 7:28 AM
Anonymous said…
I get the military issue. We too are military with a 9 yr old Aspie. Granted he is almost fully healed I guess you would say (meaning with his diet and supplements he doesnt show many signs anymore) but moving was hard on him. We came from Germany to TX and he had frequent melt downs over it all.
If your son is on EFMP I recommend contacting the housing office as well as the EFMP at the next base and asking if there is something you can do. Explain your situation to them and they may be able to work with you on the waiting list issue.
We were lucky and has a house waiting but hotel stays are so hard b/c he looses sleep and is off his schedule. :(

Good luck.
June 16, 2012 at 7:48 AM
Anonymous said…
Allow time for transitioning, verbal reminder as well as a stop-watch, depending on the age of the child, if it is a younger child a reinforcer sucha as a visual schedule, then the teacher can say something like " five more minutes till we begin Math etc"
June 16, 2012 at 7:56 AM
Anonymous said…
My son with Aspergers is 12 yrs old and transitioning used to be a nightmare for him. It has only gotten better when I started using verbal warnings, such as transitioning from computer time to 'quiet time' to bed time. When computer time is coming to an end, I start 20 minutes beforehand - 'Ed, 20 minutes left', then 'Ed, 15 minutes left', and so on. This way he knows it's coming, is not caugh off guard, and is getting himself ready for the transition. I talked to his teacher and behavior therapist at school and this past year they used the same technique with very good results, and few problems transitioning.
June 16, 2012 at 7:57 AM
Anonymous said…
We have done visual schedules and warnings ie 5min 4 min 3min etc. Has really helped.
June 17, 2012 at 6:05 AM
Anonymous said…
I use a script that I come up with for school day, evenings, weekends. Think social story but it usually has a question answer start. I expand it as time goes on to address things I left out. Tonight we will have dinner, free time and then bath and bed. You will hear a beep on the timer each time you need to move on. Brother will have the first turn on the computer tonight. Where should you be when its not your turn? In a different area, not hovering behind him or "helping" him play it right. Etc...
June 17, 2012 at 6:05 AM
Anonymous said…
My 9 year old is recently diagnosed and I'm just starting the social stories. That's a good idea!
June 17, 2012 at 6:05 AM
Anonymous said…
Visual aids, as soon as that's in place & ur child can see wots coming next its not a surprise, also a time table that's says now & then, so they can see this is happening now but then once that is complete then something else is happening. U can google search visual aids & now & then visual aids & u can even buy them or get examples 2 make ur own, they r a god send x
June 17, 2012 at 6:05 AM
Anonymous said…
Concept shifting is hard for everyone on the spectrum. However, distractions usually make it easier. Example give him/her a bathroom break or a snack break to make the transition smoother. Additionally, it helps if the child is satisfied that the task in one subject is complete.
June 17, 2012 at 6:05 AM
Anonymous said…
My son sat by the class schedule poster. He lived referring to that. Could a class schedule be taped to his desk so he knows what to expect?
June 17, 2012 at 6:05 AM
Anonymous said…
Sensory breaks seem to help my son,that and reminding them. Structure is vital in their everyday life.
June 17, 2012 at 6:06 AM
Internomad said…
Germany to TX anonymous poster, I would love some hints on how you managed to cure through diet. I am living in Germany now and could really do with that information.
June 2, 2013 at 8:52 AM
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