Ds starting school on Wednesday(update)

My ds is starting school and all his new services on Wednesday. I'm so nervous and excited for him. I need some advice from some btdt moms.
I'm not sure how this transition is going to effect him. Right now he usually takes at least a 2 hour nap. He will not be able to do this. I am hoping he is able to nap on the bus. That will maybe give him 20 minutes or so. If we could get him off the bus and put him down for another half an hour that would be great. Not sure if that will happen though. He will be getting home around 1 and then having aba from 2 to 3:30. Any tips on how to make it easier?
I have to pack snacks and a lunch. I'm stressing over that because he has been horrible with eating lately. They are going to work on that with him. I don't know if I should send him with several things or just give him 1 snack and 1 lunch. Any suggestions on what you send your kids for lunch? I feel like I'm going to be sending him with the same thing everyday.
I think he is going to be fine and do well. It's me who isn't. I think I'm worrying about it to much. Can any one share their experiences when their little ones started school? Sorry if I rambled.






Update.... So today went really really well. He didn't cry at all. I spied on him and he seemed happy. He ate almost everything that I sent for him. The only thing that went wrong was that the bus home didn't take him. There was a mistake in the paperwork. The school called me right away to pick him up. At first I was a little bent out of shape about it, but the school handled it really well. They were right on top of it. So I'm ok. I hope all goes well tomorrow.

Message edited 4/7/2010 8:37:23 PM.

Re: Ds starting school on Wednesday

DS will be starting in September. I have the same concern. He is kind of transitioning out of naps but then for the past 2 weeks he is back at wanting naps again.

I was told by the schools, therapists that the beginning is an adjusting period and they all crash in the bus.

For the food, it does not matter if it's the same everyday. Just give him what he eats so the transition is not on every front. KWIM?

Re: Ds starting school obut n Wednesday

DS is only in school half day right now, but he doesnt nap anymore...

i was a little afraid when he started last Sept 09, bc he was still napping a good 2-3 hours at a time.

but he eventually got over it, and now at 2.5 he does NOT nap at all.

my ABA therapists all understand if he falls asleep they will come back at another time... is there a different time for him to get his ABA?

when he first started school his first session of ABA was at 2pm, since he stopped napping they switched to 12pm.

good luck and he will adjust

Re: Ds starting school on Wednesday

My DS started about a month ago in a half day EI classroom. It's been a little rough for us, because he still needs a nap, and I work FT. He has lunch at daycare and right about the time the kids go down for a nap, he leaves on the bus. The bus driver did say he naps on the way to school, but I can't imagine it's for more than 20 or 30 minutes. Once the class ends, he comes back to daycare on the bus and I pick him up after work. He looks exhausted on the way home, especially on Thursdays and Fridays.

It's been tough, because I know he is not getting enough sleep. He will sometimes go to bed earlier, but this morning he woke up even earlier than usual and wouldn't gp back to sleep. He was falling asleep while eating breakfast this morning. Then, we also have ABA 2 nights a week at home, which I think can be a lot for him at times.

I would send just one thing for snack and one thing for lunch, and whatever he eats, he eats. One thing our school does is send home anything that is uneaten, so you will know exactly how much he ate that day - maybe you could ask them to do this if they don't already? We have LOTS of eating problems and one thing that the ABA teachers have been focusing on is getting him to eat what is offered without alternatives. For my DS, this seems to be working, although we do have setbacks. It seems like if we can get him to eat the first bite or two of something, he will generally eat a decent amount of it. For us, offering him alternatives was not working, because he would just refuse everything until we gave him one of the same 5 things he will always eat.

Good luck, I know it's a little nerve-wracking.

Re: Ds starting school on Wednesday

It was rough in the beginning for Christopher. He is a good eater, so packing snacks and lunch was no problem for us.
In terms of napping, he would come home sleeping on the bus most of the time in the beginning, but then got used to not napping. Which was nice because he went to bed earlier.
It is tough in the beginning, but he will get used to it.
Best of luck

Re: Ds starting school on Wednesday

My DS goes to school M-F from 10:30-2:30. He's been on this schedule since Nov.
When we got this schedule I thought "Uh oh...naps are done"! Well, I was wrong!
I pick him up at 2:30, we're home by 3 and he naps from 315 until 5 (when I go up and start making noise).
Goes to bed for the night between 8/815.

DS is a very picky eater. I send in a snack & juice.
For lunch I sent in yogurt, fruit, milk, juice OR water, and a 100 calorie pack.
Sometimes I'll send in pancakes or a grilled cheese sandwich or a bowl of cereal & "extra" milk.

Your DS will adjust quickly.
Good Luck.

Re: Ds starting school on Wednesday

Thank you everyone!!! I think I know what I am going to pack for food for tomorrow. Goldfish for snack cream cheese and jelly and a banana for lunch. I think the next couple of weeks will be a little tough while he gets used to his new schedule.Wish us luck tomorrow.

Re: Ds starting school on Wednesday

Just wanted to see how your ds did at school. Hope all went well!

Re: Ds starting school on Wednesday(update)

So glad to hear that it went well...

Re: Ds starting school on Wednesday(update)

Glad to hear all went well.

Re: Ds starting school on Wednesday(update)

so glad to hear that it all went well.

Re: Ds starting school on Wednesday(update)

So glad the first day went well!!!

Re: Ds starting school on Wednesday(update)

Glad to hear he did so well with the new routine. Sometimes it's harder on us than it is on them.

Re: Ds starting school on Wednesday(update)

Happy to hear it went well

Re: Ds starting school on Wednesday(update)

Glad to hear it went well.