The WM Parenting Connection

by Jodi Ciampa

From One Mother to Another - Equalization of the Ages

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Helping Your Child Deal With Major Life Changes

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Helping Your Child Make Friends

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It's normal to feel a bit jittery when the first day of school arrives - not only for kids, but for parents too.

So how can you calm those first-day jitters and help everyone sail through the transition from summer to school? Here are some suggestions:

A month before school starts - start transitioning your child from the casual schedule of summer to the schedule they'll be following when school starts.  This will adjust their internal clocks (and yours!) and keep the kids from being exhausted when school starts.

Two weeks before school starts - try to have all the school shopping done by now, so that you can relax in those last days before the start of school rather than running around trying to get everything the kids need.

I like to grab the suggested school supply lists, get what the kids need, then pack everything into their backpacks. I put the backpacks up where they can't get into them (and take everything back out again, lose it, use it up, break it, you get the idea). That way, their bags are packed and ready for the first day of school and I'm not running around the first week of school scrambling to buy or replace needed items. 

One week before school starts - if your child will be going to a new school, go there and take a tour around. This is especially helpful for little ones starting kindergarten. Walk with your child around the school (age-permitting - teens would probably rather sink into the walls than walk around school with a parent) - take a look at her classroom, greet the teacher if she is available and anyone else your child may come in contact with during the school year such as office personnel and the school nurse. When school starts, your child will already feel comfortable with her surroundings and ready to face the challenges of school.

The night before school starts - Make an easy, low-key meal and spend some time with your child. Talk about school, what their schedule will be like, what they'll do at school and who they'll meet there. Ask your child what she is excited about, and if she has any questions about how school works.

Be aware though that children will feed off their parents' anxieties, so if you have any worries, talk about them in private with your partner and don't feed them to your children.

Set an early bedtime, with baths and favorite stories, then relax. Your family is ready to start school.

What are your favorite tips to calm the first-day of school jitters? Please share them below!

Calming First Day of School Jitters

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Boy or Girl: Does It Really Matter?

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The term autism covers a spectrum of developmental disorders characterized by impaired communication skills and difficulty interacting with others. Boys born in 2011 have a 1 in 70 chance of being diagnosed with autism. The diagnosis rate for all children born today is 1 in 110.

These numbers are staggering. Autism diagnoses have increased 10-fold since the 1980s. With rates this high, doctors are reporting "autism anxiety" in many new parents.

Parents are scrutinizing their infants for signs of the disorder, although it is generally accepted that a diagnosis cannot be made until a child is at least 2-3 years old.

While it is difficult these days to find a family who doesn’t know someone affected by autism, we still don't know what causes this disorder.

One thing that researchers do agree about is that early detection and intervention can make a big difference in the lives of autistic children and their caregivers.

Appropriate interventions need to be evaluated on an individual basis and may include physical, speech and occupational therapy, sensory therapy, nutritional counseling, a pediatric neurologist, developmental pediatrician, gastrointestinal and immune specialists and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

These interventions may cost an estimated $5 million over the life of an autistic person. Access to appropriate interventions is something that we as a society need to address. Parents may be ill-equipped to deal with the unique challenges of parenting an autistic child and may resort to inappropriate child-rearing techniques that result in worse outcomes for the children.

A case in point involves John C. Eckhart, 30, and Alayna M. Higdon, 26, who were arrested just days ago after police discovered that the couple were allegedly keeping two autistic boys locked in a darkened, caged room in their Vancouver, WA apartment. The children, ages 5 and 7, were found wearing diapers with nothing in their room other than a mattress.

Autistic children deserve better than this. We as a society need to address the growing numbers of those affected by autism with funds to support research and interventions. Parents and caregivers deserve our full support so that they can help autistic children reach their full potential.

April is Autism Awareness Month