“They Do Fine at School.” So Why Do They Fall Apart at Home?
How to understand what the school day asks of your autistic child or teen and make the transition home easier on everyone. Your child walks through the front door. You say, “Hey, good to see you. Put your backpack away and wash your hands. How was school?” They drop the bag, yell, “Stop talking to me!” and slam their bedroom door. Or they sit down in the hallway and cry. Or they pull their hood up, go quiet, and seem unable to answer even a simple question. That morning, their teacher emailed to say they’d had a great week. They turned in their work. They participated in class. Nobody saw a problem. By the third afternoon like this, it’s easy to think, If they can manage all day at school, why can’t they handle one small request from me? Try asking a different question. What did it take for them to get through the day, and what are we asking them to do before they’ve had a chance to recover? What “fine at school” can look like from the inside A teacher may accurately report that ...