Two Weeks In: Supporting Your Neurodivergent Child Through Early School Year Challenges

The honeymoon phase is over. Your child has completed their first week or two of school, and the reality of the academic year is setting in. For parents of neurodivergent children, this period often brings a familiar mix of hope and concern as patterns begin to emerge.

Key Takeaways From this Blog:

• The second week reveals true school demands as initial excitement fades and academic expectations become clear

• After-school meltdowns can be

normal for neurodivergent children who use significant cognitive resources during the school day

• Early communication with teachers is more effective than waiting for formal conferences

• Temporary reduction in expectations helps children adjust gradually to increased demands

• Challenges provide valuable data about your child’s needs rather than indicating failure

Why This Period Matters

Research shows that the first month of school is a critical adjustment period, particularly for children with ADHD, autism, learning differences, and anxiety disorders (1). The initial excitement of new teachers and classrooms typically wanes by the second week, revealing the true cognitive and social demands of the school environment.

For neurodivergent children, this transition is particularly challenging because school places significant demands on executive functioning systems—the brain networks responsible for working memory, cognitive flexibility, and attention control (2).

Common Warning Signs

1. At Home: Increased emotional dysregulation, difficulty with bedtime routines, resistance to discussing school, or regression in previously mastered skills.

2. School Reports: Teachers mentioning attention difficulties, social withdrawal, incomplete assignments, or behavioral concerns that weren’t present initially.

3. Physical Symptoms: Complaints of headaches, stomachaches, or fatigue—often indicators of adjustment stress in neurodivergent children.

Immediate Support Strategies

1. Prioritize After-School Recovery

   Research on neurodivergent children emphasizes the importance of restorative environments following high-demand periods (3). Create a predictable after-school routine including:

   1. Sensory reset time: 15-30 minutes in a quiet, low-stimulation environment

   2. Immediate nutrition: Healthy snacks available right after school

   3. Regulation activities: Movement, drawing, or music—whatever helps your child’s nervous system settle
      

2. Communicate with Teachers Early

   Positive home-school communication correlates with better outcomes for neurodivergent students (4). Focus on:

   1. Sharing what you’re observing at home

   2. Asking specific questions about classroom observations

   3. Collaborating on strategies rather than just reporting problems
      

3. Adjust Expectations Temporarily

   Studies show that neurodivergent children benefit from graduated increases in expectations (5). Consider:

   1. Reducing homework battles by focusing on effort over completion

   2. Allowing more time for routines

   3. Temporarily increasing supports that may have been reduced over summer

When to Seek Professional Support

If challenges persist beyond the first month or if there’s a significant gap between your child’s ability and school performance, consider:

1. Neuropsychological assessment to understand learning profiles

2. Review of existing accommodations to match current classroom demands

3. Professional consultation for persistent behavioral or academic concerns

The Strength-Based Perspective

Research consistently shows that strength-based approaches improve outcomes for neurodivergent children (6). While addressing challenges is important, also identify what your child is doing well—making friends, showing creativity, demonstrating persistence, or excelling in particular subjects.

Building Long-Term Success

The goal isn’t to eliminate all challenges but to build your child’s capacity to navigate them. Key resilience factors include:

1. Self-awareness: Helping children understand their learning and sensory needs

2. Self-advocacy skills: Teaching appropriate ways to request help

3. Growth mindset: Emphasizing effort and strategy development

Moving Forward

These early weeks provide valuable information about how your child responds to academic and social demands. View challenges as data points that inform better support strategies rather than failures.

Remember that many neurodivergent children who struggle initially go on to have positive academic experiences once appropriate supports are in place. Trust your parental instincts—you know your child best, and your observations are crucial in creating the support system they need.

If challenges persist beyond the first month, consider scheduling check-ins with your child’s educational team. Early intervention and collaborative problem-solving typically lead to better outcomes than waiting for problems to resolve independently.

If your child continues struggling with school adjustment, a comprehensive assessment can provide insights into their learning profile and guide effective intervention strategies. Contact our office to schedule a free 15-minute consultation with Dr. Greenfield to learn if an assessment is right for your child.

info@drgreenfield.com

321-345-9809

www.DrGreenfield.com

References:

(1) Humphrey & Lewis, 2008, Autism, 12(1), 23-46

(2) Diamond, 2013, Annual Review of Psychology, 64, 135-168

(3)  Raymaker et al., 2020, Autism in Adulthood, 2(2), 132-143

(4) Sheridan et al., 2019, School Psychology Review, 48(3), 241-256

(5)  Schoenfeld et al., 2021, Journal of School Psychology, 89, 1-15

(6) Reschly et al., 2018, Psychology in the Schools, 55(9), 990-1004