When Routine Returns After March Break
There’s a lot of focus on preparing for March Break. But what about the return?
For many autistic children, going back to school after a week off can feel just as hard - sometimes harder - than the break itself.
Routine left.
Now it’s coming back.
And transitions, even positive ones, take energy.
We often remind families:
Re-entry is real.
🧠 Why the Return Can Be Tough
During March Break:
Wake-up times shift
Screen time may increase
Structure loosens
Demands decrease
Even if the week was calm, the rhythm changed.
Returning to:
Early mornings
Academic expectations
Social dynamics
Noise and transitions
…can feel overwhelming.
Especially on that first Monday.
🗓️ Ease Back In (If You Can)
A few gentle strategies:
Reintroduce school wake-up times a day or two before
Talk through the first day back
Lay out clothes and backpack the night before
Review what will stay the same
Sometimes simply saying, “School starts again tomorrow. It might feel different at first, and that’s okay,” can reduce anxiety.
😟 Watch for Post-Break Dysregulation
You might notice:
Increased rigidity
Emotional outbursts
Shutdown after school
More exhaustion
This doesn’t mean March Break was a mistake.
It means transitions cost energy.
Plan for low-demand evenings that first week back.
Keep after-school time quiet and predictable.
💛 A Gentle Reminder
The goal isn’t a perfect return.
The goal is a supported one.
Routine will settle again.
Sleep will regulate.
The rhythm will return.
Transitions are hard - but they’re not forever.
And as always, you don’t have to navigate them alone.
We’re here - through the breaks, the returns, and everything in between.
