Getting children back into the swing of things after the holiday break

Understanding the Difficulty of the Transition

Before intervening, it's important to recognize that returning to school in January can indeed be difficult. Days are short and dark, the cold often discourages outdoor activities, and accumulated fatigue from the holidays may still be felt. Therefore, make sure to validate your children's emotions rather than minimizing their discouragement. A simple "I understand it's hard to get up in the dark and cold" can create a connection that then facilitates cooperation.

Gradually Reintroducing Routines

The shock of returning will be less brutal if you gradually reintroduce routines a few days before school resumes.

Three to four days before school resumes:

• Gradually restore regular bedtimes.
• Start setting the alarm clock again.
• Resume meals at fixed times.
• Reduce screen time to normal limits.
• Prepare the homework area and school supplies together.

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

Creating Positive Anticipation

Instead of presenting returning to school as an inevitable chore, help your children identify aspects they look forward to. To do this, ask open-ended questions that encourage a positive perspective:

• What are you excited to tell your friends?
• What aspect of school did you miss during the holidays?
• Is there a project or 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 shift attention to positive elements rather than dreaded ones. For children who genuinely struggle to find anything positive, suggest small, tangible pleasures: seeing their best friend again, lunch activities, or a particularly liked teacher.

Setting Achievable and Motivating Goals

The beginning of the new year offers an excellent opportunity to set goals that give renewed meaning to academic efforts. However, these goals must be chosen by the child, not imposed by parents.

Characteristics of a good goal for a child:

• Specific and concrete ("improve my handwriting" rather than "get better at French")
• Measurable and observable ("read 15 minutes each evening")
• Realistic according to the child's age and abilities
• Time-bound ("by the break" rather than "all year")
• Positively formulated (what one wants to do, not what one wants to avoid)

Encourage your child to choose one or two goals, no more. Too many simultaneous goals dilute efforts 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 the child colors in the days they worked towards their goal.

Maintaining Moments of Fun

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

Some strategies to preserve fun:

• Plan a special small activity each week (game night, park outing, movie night at home)
• Maintain certain holiday rituals that can be integrated into the routine (hot chocolate before bed, reading together)
• Create Friday night traditions that reward the week's efforts
• Allow an occasional pajama day on the weekend to compensate for early mornings

These moments of pleasure are not conditional rewards for good behavior but rather essential elements of a balanced life that help maintain overall motivation.

Adjusting Expectations According to Available Energy

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

If homework generates major conflicts during this period, focus on the essentials and temporarily let go of the superfluous. It's better to maintain a positive relationship and general motivation than to exhaust oneself in daily battles over details. Don't hesitate to communicate with your child's teacher if you find that the workload significantly contributes to their discouragement.

Taking Care of Their Physical Well-being

Mental motivation largely relies on physical well-being. During the dark and cold months, make sure to pay particular attention to these aspects:

• Sleep: Ensure your child gets enough sleep according to their age.
• Nutrition: Prioritize nutritious meals that support energy.
• Physical activity: Maintain movement despite the cold, even indoors.
• Natural light: Maximize exposure to daylight when possible.

These physical factors directly influence mood, concentration, and the ability to cope with daily challenges, and therefore should not be neglected!

Returning to school after the holidays will never be the easiest time of the year, but with understanding, planning, and adapted strategies, you can help your children regain their motivation and continue the school year with pride and accomplishment!