Back to School: Connecting With Your Child's School OT

Every August and September, the back to school drill begins. Our kids get new teachers, new classmates, and new routines. Some may even be getting new school buildings, and some may be placed in new educational programs. No matter what, the beginning of any new school year comes with excitement and a bit of stress for all involved.

Parents and caregivers may be curious about the school staff members who will be working with their children. For occupational therapists in schools, the first few weeks are typically spent looking through ALL of the students who receive services, scheduling with teachers, and reviewing student records for current goals, challenges, strengths, and expectations for the new year.

One thing that is VERY helpful to your school based OT is to send an email describing your child's strengths and challenges, as well as anything you would like to share as a parent. Parents and caregivers know their children best - when you share your knowledge about your child's likes, dislikes, and daily routines at home, it helps us to get to know them and sets a foundation for what we might expect to see (to some degree) in the school setting. It also gives us topics that we can use to communicate and connect with your child, thereby establishing a positive relationship from the beginning.

So, if you are a parent or caregiver of a child receiving OT at school, feel free to reach out and get in touch with the therapist. If you are unsure yet of who your child's OT will be, one of the quickest ways to get your message through to all team members is to email your child's case manager, who can then send the information to the right people, once caseloads have been established.

The bottom line is, if you are in a new school or new staff situation, don't hesitate to share information about your child with your school team! Communication and collaboration between therapists and parents strengthens the quality of experience in school for your child.

Happy first days of school, everyone!