Getting kids motivated again after the holiday break

Understanding how hard the transition is

Before stepping in, it's important to recognize that going back to school in January can indeed be hard. Days are short and dark, the cold often discourages outdoor activities, and the fatigue built up over the holidays is still being felt. So make sure to validate your children's feelings rather than minimizing their discouragement. A simple “I understand it's hard to get up in the dark and the cold” creates a connection that makes cooperation easier afterward.

Gradually bringing routines back

The shock of going back will be less jarring if you gradually reintroduce routines a few days before school starts.

Three to four days before school starts:

• Gradually restore the usual bedtimes.
• Start setting the alarm clock again.
• Go back to meals at set times.
• Cut screen time back to the usual limits.
• Get the homework space and school supplies ready together.

This gentle transition lets the body and mind readjust without the stress of an abrupt change on the first day back at school.

Building positive anticipation

Rather than presenting the return to school as an unavoidable chore, help your children identify things they're looking forward to. To do this, ask open-ended questions that encourage a positive outlook:

• What are you excited to tell your friends?
• What part of school did you miss during the break?
• Is there a project or a subject you're looking forward to getting back to?
• What would you like to accomplish by the end of the school year?

These conversations naturally steer attention toward the positives rather than the dreaded parts. For kids who really struggle to find anything positive, suggest small, concrete pleasures: seeing their best friend again, lunchtime activities or a teacher they especially like.

Setting achievable, motivating goals

The start of the new year is a great opportunity to set goals that give schoolwork renewed meaning. A word of caution, though: these goals should be chosen by the child, not imposed by the parents.

Features of a good goal for a child:

• Specific and concrete (“improve my handwriting” rather than “get better at French”)
• Measurable and observable (“read for 15 minutes every night”)
• Realistic for the child's age and abilities
• Time-limited (“by spring break” rather than “all year”)
• Phrased positively (what we want to do, not what we want to avoid)

Encourage your child to choose one or two goals, no more. Too many goals at once dilute the effort and inevitably lead to discouragement. Create a visual aid together to track progress, whether it's a checklist, a graph or simply a calendar where your child colours in the days they worked toward their goal.

Keeping fun moments going

Of course, regaining motivation doesn't mean plunging into absolute strictness! On the contrary, kids generally keep their motivation up better when their daily life retains moments of joy and lightness.

A few strategies for preserving the fun:

• Plan a small special activity every week (game night, a trip to the park, movie night at home)
• Keep up certain holiday rituals that can fit into the routine (hot chocolate before bed, reading together)
• Create Friday night traditions that reward the week's efforts
• Allow the occasional pyjama day on the weekend to make up for the early mornings

These fun moments aren't rewards conditional on good behaviour, but essential elements of a balanced life that help maintain overall motivation.

Adjusting expectations to the energy available

With the cold and the darkness, January and February are particularly demanding months. Recognize that your kids (and you!) may have less energy than in September. Temporarily adjust your expectations if necessary.

If homework causes major conflicts during this period, focus on the essentials and temporarily let go of the extras. It's better to maintain a positive relationship and general motivation than to wear yourself out in daily battles over details. Don't hesitate to contact your child's teacher if you see that the workload is contributing significantly to their discouragement.

Taking care of their physical well-being

Mental motivation rests in large part on physical well-being. During the dark, cold months, make sure to pay special attention to these areas:

• Sleep: Make sure your child gets enough sleep for their age.
• Nutrition: Favour nutritious meals that support energy.
• Physical activity: Keep moving despite the cold, even indoors.
• Natural light: Maximize exposure to daylight when possible.

These physical factors directly influence mood, concentration and the ability to face daily challenges, so they shouldn't be neglected!

Going back to school after the holidays will never be the easiest time of the year, but with understanding, planning and the right strategies, you can help your children find their motivation again and carry on through the school year with pride and a sense of accomplishment!