It’s “back-to-school” season! For many parents, this means shopping for school supplies and making sure everything is ready for the new academic year. But for parents of autistic tweens and teens, there’s an added layer of preparation — ensuring that your child’s school environment is as supportive and accommodating as possible. This often requires careful planning, typically starting about a year in advance.
When transitioning to secondary school, many families focus on creating the best possible experience for their autistic child. This often involves:
- A formal transition plan
- School-based supports and adjustments
- An Individual Learning Plan (ILP)
- Orientation activities, social stories, and other strategies to prepare for secondary school
- Practical strategies to help your child manage secondary school routines, with a key focus on Energy Management
As parents and teachers, we spend a significant amount of time working out the best way forward, usually with input from our sometimes-grumpy tweens. After one such meeting about transitioning to secondary school, I had a conversation with my own teen about what “big school” would mean for her. Naturally, she was anxious, worried about how everyday activities might overwhelm her or trigger her autistic traits.
She is well aware of her triggers and how the world affects her, both positively and negatively. After some back-and-forth about how she could minimize the negative impacts, she rejected every suggestion I made — simply because she wasn’t ready to consider solutions at the time. In response, I told her, “You’re going to have to put on your big girl pants.” She looked at me confused, asking, “What are you talking about?”
I answered, Energy Management.
What Is Energy Management from an Autistic Teen’s Perspective?
Let’s break down what Energy Management means, specifically for an autistic teenager.
Take, for example, a situation where your teen is sensitive to noise. Imagine the school plays a local radio station over loudspeakers every morning as students arrive. For your autistic child, this could cause sensory overload before the day has even started, leaving them drained and unable to focus.
To manage this, my daughter uses her noise-canceling headphones. They have two settings: ambient noise, which dampens the background sounds while still allowing her to hear conversations, and a 100% quiet setting. She finds the ambient noise setting works best because it helps maintain her energy levels while keeping her engaged with what’s happening around her.
Conserving Energy Throughout the School Day
School can be incredibly draining for autistic teens. It’s essential for them to learn strategies to recharge their energy throughout the day. Here are a few ways to do this:
Lunch Breaks: Encourage your teen to seek out a quiet space for 10-15 minutes during lunch. In this time, they could:
- Read a book or comic
- Listen to soothing sounds through their headphones
- Do any other relaxing activity that helps them recharge
As parents, we can implement these strategies through the transition planning process, but unless our children understand the importance of Energy Management, they might not use these tools effectively.
Empowering Your Teen to Manage Their Energy
Your child has the ability to learn what will become the lifelong skill of Energy Management. Engage them in conversations about this concept and experiment with different energy-saving strategies at home, on outings, or in any situation where they’re in an environment they can’t fully control.
Getting them to actively think about energy management is crucial. It’s a step toward equipping them with a valuable life skill. For instance, we recently visited a funfair with our autistic daughter. She wanted to go but was worried about the loud music, which she finds draining. After discussing this, she decided to bring her noise-canceling headphones. Sure enough, about 10 minutes into the event, she put them on. The result? We all enjoyed the fair without any anxiety, and she stayed calm and happy — not too grumpy!
You can try something similar at home with your own teen. Resources like those from Autism.org.uk offer downloadable worksheets to help start the conversation. Remember, finding solutions takes time and may require many different discussions and experiences.
The Long-Term Value of Energy Management
Understanding and mastering Energy Management is a vital skill that can significantly improve your autistic teen’s life, not only now but well into adulthood. As a coach, I can guide you and your child in exploring Energy Management techniques that will support them in their daily lives and help them thrive.
Let’s work together to equip your teen with the tools they need to live a balanced, empowered life!
