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Is school mentally wearing my 6 year old son out?

Caring Dad

hi, 

my son has Autism and is extremely hypersensitive. The hustle and bustle of a busy classroom and school can be a minefield for a child with his issues. He deals with it in such a brave way. He doesn't let it stop him facing these challenges with a smile on his face.

but here we come to an issue I have noticed lately.

My son is usually reasonably responsive when you try to communicate with him. But after school lately he just seems mentally lethargic. He just seems out of the room, almost on autopilot. Obviously he can go into a world of his own, as many of our dear sons and daughters can with autism but this seems different. 

He took two hours to 'get over' school last night, he sat there looking at his iPad not wanting to get up and play as he usually would. when we asked him if he was ok or did he want something to eat he just sat there saying nothing. We had to repeat ourselves several times until he realised we were speaking.

I suppose my question is, does anyone think a school day may be becoming too much for him mentally and physically? 

Maybe with all the sensory stressors that a school day brings him is getting a little too much with him?

thanks for reading.

Parents

  • Hi

    We have wonderful 16 year old autistic son and have been through many twists and turns over the years.  I completely empathise with your concerns and your son's reactions to his day.  The same thing happened with our son when he was in main stream primary school.  It was explained to me that our son's most natural and therefore most relaxing world was in his autistic world.  At school, he is being gently dragged out of that all the time and it is exhausting.  It was suggested that we allowed him the time at home to 'relax' back into his most comfortable world in order to recover from a very intense day.  We allowed his bedroom to provide him with that space and it has been a wonderful retreat for him over the years.  

    As puberty takes hold, anxiety can increase enormously.  Therefore to have learned that there is a place within which he can relax and recover is essential.  For secondary school, our son then went to a special school where the lighting is specifically designed to help, the classes are small and quiet, there are chill out and sensory rooms for relaxation and many other strategies to help children relax and therefore open the doors to learning.  Our son doesn't come home so exhausted and a little bit of down time is all that is needed.

    Escapism is good for us all Smile.  Hope that helps.

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  • Hi

    We have wonderful 16 year old autistic son and have been through many twists and turns over the years.  I completely empathise with your concerns and your son's reactions to his day.  The same thing happened with our son when he was in main stream primary school.  It was explained to me that our son's most natural and therefore most relaxing world was in his autistic world.  At school, he is being gently dragged out of that all the time and it is exhausting.  It was suggested that we allowed him the time at home to 'relax' back into his most comfortable world in order to recover from a very intense day.  We allowed his bedroom to provide him with that space and it has been a wonderful retreat for him over the years.  

    As puberty takes hold, anxiety can increase enormously.  Therefore to have learned that there is a place within which he can relax and recover is essential.  For secondary school, our son then went to a special school where the lighting is specifically designed to help, the classes are small and quiet, there are chill out and sensory rooms for relaxation and many other strategies to help children relax and therefore open the doors to learning.  Our son doesn't come home so exhausted and a little bit of down time is all that is needed.

    Escapism is good for us all Smile.  Hope that helps.

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