Kiara's Corner - Portable Attachments for School
Back-to-school rituals are more than simple routines—they’re powerful anchors of security, connection, and growth. By combining familiar scents, textures, and sounds into everyday items and moments, families can create a “portable attachment” that travels with their child to and from school. These multi-sensory practices not only strengthen emerging object-permanence skills but also deepen a child’s trust in their caregiver’s presence.
Some ideas to prepare for back to school (in order of least complex to most complex):
Download printable document here
Music List
Sound: make a list of favorite songs that your child likes to listen to and at what times of the day/what type of activities. Give this to teachers so they can use it in the classroom when needed.
Scented stuffed animal
Touch: soft fabric from stuffed animal
Smell: Tiny sachet of parent’s (unscented) lotion in an internal pocket
Voice Recorder
Sound: recordable voice of caregiver (“I’ll be back after lunch”, “I love you”)
Picture frame with voice recording
Sound: Record an encouraging statement that can be played by child while looking at picture (Ex: 7.5 x 6.3 Voice Recording Frame or Custom Song Plaque with Photo)
Vision: Use functional vision to have a picture of family, or create a tactile family photo
“Home Smell” Pom-Pom
Smell: Use a Pom-pom lightly infused with a scent that's used at home (body wash, lotion, perfume)
Touch: Soft material
Fingerprint keychain
Touch: Use air dried clay with child’s thumb print, and one with caregiver. These matching keychains can be used when child (or parent) is missing one another
Travel-Sized Scent Kit
Smell: Four small felt pads, each with a different home scent (linen spray, vanilla, pine, citrus) in resealable pouch
Braille-Stamped Bracelet
Touch: Leather or silicone band stamped with a short message (“Always with you”) in braille (DIY or buy online from companies like Etsy)
Visual/Low-Vision: Us a contrasting band color
Photo-Audio Bookmark
Sound: Tiny sound-chip recording of family saying, “Have a great day!”
Touch/Visual: Laminated family photo with raised-edge frame
Along with these “portable attachments”, there’s more ways to help create an easier transition into the school year. Below are a few tips for all ages when it comes time to prepare for the school year and start cultivating positive practices and mindset.
Label Clearly: Use tactile labels (braille, raised stickers) for easy identification.
Sanitize & Safety: Choose hypoallergenic materials, wash per instructions. If your child explores with their mouth, be mindful while finding sizes of items that are safe for your child to chew on or stick in their mouth.
Teach Self-Retrieval: Practice finding and using their portable attachment at home before school starts. This helps them be more independent in times of stress.
Repetition is key: Adults can support their child's access to their support item by continuing to facilitate use throughout the day. Regularly encouraging your child to use their support item(s) will help them remember to use it in your absence, such as at school.