Easing the Transition to High School for Children with Developmental Language Disorder

Here are some concrete things you can do to help ease transition-related anxiety.

• Prepare your child for the upcoming changes. 
  Make time to talk through the changes that lie ahead.
• Point out the things that won’t change.
  Certain subjects, the presence of helpful adults, some of their friends, etc.
• Validate their emotions and put them into words.
  Don’t minimize your child’s worries. Instead, try to come up with practical solutions.  
• Normalize the experience.
  Ask friends and family to share their own high school experiences.
• Be confident.
  A parent’s confidence is a powerful tool to help a child feel secure.
• Create a set of reference points.
  Reassure your child by visiting their new school together. Walk through the hallways, locating reference points like washrooms, the main office, their locker, the stairways, etc. Each landmark will help anchor your child in their new routine.

For children dealing with DLD, it’s always best to use simple words, short sentences, and concrete examples. Doing so will reassure them and give them the confidence to take on new challenges! What’s more, repetition and rephrasing are essential for helping them assimilate new information. 

Many kids find managing a lock and having to remember its combination stressful! Make a game of opening and closing the lock at home. Practising in this way will ease your child’s anxiety. Tuck a copy of the combination in their backpack or pencil case so they don’t have to worry about forgetting it, or choose a combination that’s easy to remember, such as your address or part of your phone number.

If your child has an individualized intervention plan (IEP) in elementary school, make sure it is transferred to the high school they will be attending. Ask their elementary school when and how it will be done.

This transition can also be a good time to update the plan according to your child’s needs. 

Here are a few strategies to help young teens with DLD become more autonomous.

• Provide challenges adapted to their reality.
  Find areas where they can test out their autonomy and feel increasingly competent. In their early teens, some kids are ready to take control of their sleep routine, plan out their week, prioritize tasks, make their lunch, and so on. The key is to find challenges that are appropriate for your child.
• Set specific goals.
  Set a clear goal with your teen—choosing it together will be more motivating. Help them put their idea into words, then write it down as a reminder. For example: “This week, I’ll organize my homework and study schedule myself.”
• Provide support.
  Offer guidance by asking questions, breaking tasks into smaller steps, and showing them how to do things when needed. Help them understand that you’re there to answer their questions but won’t do the work for them.
• Point out their wins.
  Celebrate your child’s efforts and their successes, no matter how small. Recognition is much more motivating than criticism.
• Trust your child.
  The road to autonomy is long. Your child will learn through trial and error, and they will forget things at times. It’s all part of the process! By letting them try new things for themself and encouraging them to take initiative, your child will develop the confidence they need to become autonomous!