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How To Help Your Special Needs Child Avoid Burnout

How To Help Your Special Needs Child Avoid Burnout

Monday, October 16, 2023

Have you ever heard of the term burnout? You may have heard some people describe being burnt out on food they usually love to eat, maybe even burnt out with their job, but many students every year describe feeling overwhelmed and burnt out on school. It’s not that they don’t care about school, but doing a stream of constant homework can lead some students to feel burnt out. 

Some students with special needs require a different approach to school and learning, but they can be just as impacted by burnout as everyone else. We care about your child and their education, so we’ve created this blog to help you learn about this new term. Take a look at this blog to see if your child is experiencing burnout and what you can do to help them stay right on track.

What You Should Know About Burnout and How To Help Your Special Needs Child Avoid It

What Exactly Is Burnout? 

According to the APA Dictionary of Psychology, burnout can be described as “physical, emotional or mental exhaustion, accompanied by decreased motivation, lowered performance and negative attitudes towards oneself and others.”  Oftentimes, burnout is associated with work and employment, but some people feel it is just as common in school as it can be in the workforce.

So What Are the Symptoms of Burnout?

  • Lack of motivation
  • Frequent procrastination
  • Feeling lonely
  • Low energy, especially during school hours
  • Constant frustration with schoolwork

What Can Cause Burnout?

Burnout can be caused by so many different things, but in school,  burnout can be caused by school-related stress, lots of homework, a busy schedule, and repetition. 

According to the Albert Einstein School of Medicine, “factors leading to study burnout are piles of school work, lack of sleep, poor eating habits, concurrent family demands, limited or no physical exercise, poor time management and unrealistic goals.”

How To Address Burnout in Your Child

Addressing burnout in your child is crucial to helping them stay in a good place to learn, complete work, and not overwhelm themselves. If you’ve noticed your child feeling less motivated, or if you’ve noticed any of the symptoms listed above, it may very well be time to talk to them. 

Be kind, and listen to your child’s concerns. As their parent, you’ll always know them best, but it may be time to reevaluate their daily schedule. Maybe try earlier or later bedtimes, switching up morning routines, or incorporating more or fewer breaks throughout the day. This may not be the key solution, but it may indeed help your child stay motivated. 

Burnout and mental exhaustion are tough things for everyone to deal with, so if you’re unsure of what to do, it is never a bad idea to talk to your child’s care provider to discuss mental health and lack of motivation. 

How Can It Impact Children With Special Needs?

We know that children with special needs require different care and accommodations, and when it comes to school, this is still sometimes the case. We never want any of our students to feel burnt out, but sometimes, feeling burned out can make you feel isolated and behind. Check out this other blog to learn more about schoolwork and students with special needs.

It’s a good idea to let your child’s teacher know that they may be experiencing burnout so your teacher can be extra mindful of working with them in the classroom. 

But school can sometimes be a challenge for students with special needs, so it is extremely important to avoid burnout and help them work through it. If your child already has a tense relationship with schoolwork due to their special needs, burnout can make it worse.

About Ignite Achievement Academy

Ignite Achievement Academy specializes in working with students in grades K-12 with learning barriers. Here at Ignite, we IGNITE student learning, IGNITE their passions and interests, and IGNITE their future!

We help students of all kinds including those with:

  • Learning disabilities
  • Language disorders
  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Anxiety
  • Depression

Through compassionate, structured teaching practices and support for the whole child, students receive the skills and support needed to thrive. Most students who enroll at IAA have had a long struggle and are relieved when they join us and make friends with other students. Parents often report to us that their child feels successful each day and has a growing sense of well-being. This leads to a full-family benefit.

At IAA, we equip students with training to build essential academic skills to successfully complete coursework, solve problems, and meet the academic and social demands of their school environment. Contact us today to learn more about Ignite Achievement Academy to request information or maybe even schedule a tour of our campus!