Going back to school after the Christmas holidays is never easy for children, unless we make an effort to motivate them so they actually want to go back to class.
It is never easy to make children see the good things about going back to school after two weeks of fun and loads of presents.
So in this blog we will explain, stitch by stitch, the two main keys for taking the pain out of the end of the holidays:
- A positive attitude from parents, who should remind children of all the advantages of going back to school and be enthusiastic about it.
- Get back into the routine bit by bit, so that the first day is easier to cope with.
How can grown-ups help with their attitude?
When the time comes to go back to school, they should start giving their children positive messages, like how they will be back with their friends, they will be able to tell them all about the presents Father Christmas brought them, and we can even let them take a new toy with them if the school lets them.
The right food can also be an ally, and if they have been eating whatever they want over the holidays, as we get closer to the first day back at school, it’s a good idea to get back to regular eating habits and over the first few days at school give them more fruit, dairy products and vegetables, so that they have enough energy to make up for being tired when getting back into their normal routine.
How can we get back into regular habits?
A few days before going back to school, children should start going to bed earlier. Children get used to new habits very quickly, so it won’t be much of an effort for them to go to bed a bit earlier.
Over the holidays parents are not so strict about bath time, which is often changed to the morning as we tend to get home later at night or have people round for dinner. A few days before going back to school, it is important to go back to having a bath before dinner. This will relax them and help them fall asleep earlier.
If our children have to do some homework over the holidays, they shouldn’t do it all at once on the first day or cram it all in on the last day before class. If they leave all their homework till the last day, they will probably feel overwhelmed and even a bit guilty, and they won’t feel too happy about seeing their friends again. And if they do it all on the first day, they run the risk of not remembering anything about it, so when they come face to face with their teacher it might not be a happy reencounter. The best thing is to do a bit every day or every other day so that they have the sensation of a routine, without having to rush. 15 minutes a day should be enough.
Whether or not they have homework, it is a great idea to keep on reading with our children at this time of year. And if the whole family can take part, as many grown-ups will also be on holiday, not only are we encouraging them to read more but we will also be strengthening family ties.
Something else we often relax a bit on holiday is tidying up. We don’t check as much because we are all more relaxed. Before going back to school, devote some time to putting everything back in its place and tidying up.
If you follow these tips, it will be much easier for your children to go back to school, and they will be better prepared to take on new challenges until the next holidays.
How do you cope with going back to school? Share your experiences with us in the comments.
