Help Your Child With Migraine Prepare for School

It’s surprising how quickly summer break has flown by, and while we might be secretly happy that the kids are returning to school, children with migraine need a bit of extra planning. As you start your back-to-school preparations, here are some tips to help your child have a successful and smooth school year:

Get a Proper Diagnosis: If your child frequently experiences headaches or stomach aches, it's important to have them diagnosed by their pediatrician. Migraine is a serious neurological condition, not just headaches, and can present differently in children, such as all-over head pain and shorter attacks. Keeping a migraine diary can help the doctor accurately diagnose and create an effective treatment plan. Having a diagnosis can help your child feel validated, receive appropriate migraine treatment, and secure accommodations that support their success at school.

Create a Migraine Toolkit: Pack a few essentials in your child’s backpack to help prevent or treat a migraine attack: an extra snack, a water bottle, earplugs, and glasses to protect against harsh light. Also, arrange with the school nurse to keep necessary medications and maybe even an ice pack to help with a migraine attack.

Request School Accommodations: Your child will need you to be an advocate for them at school until they learn how to advocate for themselves. School accommodations can make a big difference. These can include allowing medication at the onset of a migraine attack, providing a quiet and dim place to rest during a migraine attack, providing extra time to take tests, taking tests in a quiet, dimly lit room, modified physical education, and access to snacks as needed.

here are several methods to get accommodations for your child. Start by obtaining a doctor’s note that outlines your child's diagnosis, symptoms, and the necessary accommodations. Present this note to the school nurse and discuss any questions they might have. If more formal accommodations are needed, you can request a meeting with school officials to discuss implementing a Section 504 plan, which ensures that students with disabilities receive proper educational opportunities. This plan can accompany your child into college. If initial accommodations don’t meet your child’s needs, consider pursuing an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), which is more comprehensive but also more time-consuming and does not extend into college.

Establish a Routine: Keeping a regular schedule can help manage migraine, as abrupt changes in routine can trigger attacks. Gradually adjust your child's bedtime, meal, and snack times well before the school year begins. By making these adjustments, your child can have a smoother transition into the school schedule, potentially reducing the frequency and severity of migraine episodes.

Navigating school with migraines can be tough, but with the right preparation and support, your child can have a smoother experience. Remember, you're not alone - many parents are advocating for their children with migraine, and together, we can support each other and our kids to thrive in school despite the challenges of living with this disease.