We all know school experiences can be unique to each child. Some struggle with staying on task, others love to chat the day away with their best friends. Aspergers school challenges can feel difficult, but every parent with neurotypical and neurodiverse children can relate. Children can thrive in the social, fast-paced environment of the classroom, but they can also find it an overwhelming place full of loud noises, ongoing visual stimulation, and draining expectations. There is an endless list of appropriate behaviors for school, and just as many considered inappropriate for the setting. Students are required to learn social cues, follow group instructions while adapting to their needs, maintain physical expectations such as staying seated at a desk, and focus on the material presented with eager interest. These tasks can be daunting for adults, let alone children who are growing and learning everyday.
School can be a particularly formidable task for children who are neurodiverse, finding themselves further along the Aspergers and Autism Spectrum. What might some Aspergers school challenges include? Imagine a busy hallway, children calling across to friends and staff calling after those who are running. Someone bumps you from the side as they unexpectedly rush past. You look up just in time to avoid running into someone else, but they look at you with an expression of irritation despite the miss. You check your watch and realize you don’t have time to run to the restroom before you’re supposed to be in your seat, so you debate waiting or facing your teacher who is sure to be disappointed if you’re late. Someone pops up in front of you and starts chatting about an afterschool event, you don’t want to be rude but you’re not following and can’t quite place how you know the other student.
Let’s stop and zoom out from this scenario. A child on the spectrum may have difficulty with any of these events, let alone the entire sequence. Anyone reading might feel their anxiety rising imagining being put in a loud, rushed, socially and potentially physically uncomfortable situation. These Aspergers school challenges include: knowing how to deal with the noise; crowded spaces and resulting visual stimulation; understand the schedule for the day and utilize a watch; be able to self-regulate when bumped accidentally by another student; use empathy to imagine why a student might be annoyed by an averted run-in; troubleshoot balancing physical needs with structured expectations; and have a social awareness to engage in small talk with a friendly peer. Maybe you’ve already watched your son or daughter deal with Aspergers school challenges and feel overwhelmed for them, unsure how to help. If this sounds like a lot for your child to navigate, you’re not alone!
Talisman Summer Camps is uniquely designed for youth on the spectrum. Talisman can help your child learn social skills, schedule and task management, and give him or her the confidence they need to be successful in an appropriate school setting. We will practice tools with your child so they can face Aspergers school challenges and overcome them, with the support of family and school staff. A neurodiverse child may require some accommodations to enhance their school experience and that should not hold them back. Rather, accommodations can be another tool they are comfortable using. These may include noise-cancelling headphones for the busy areas, a note taker to assist with writing tasks, identifying a quiet place for necessary breaks, designing a visual schedule and assisting with instructions being presented in a visual manner. Paired with the confidence and self-esteem gained from participating in Talisman Summer Camps, your child will be ready to start the new year. Just watch, he or she will be eager to share stories, make friends, and blow through any Aspergers school challenges. Imagine that, then see it for yourself! Contact us to discuss Aspergers summer camps and programs and reserve your spot today.