Winter break is a wonderful time of year for children to enjoy time with family and friends. It’s also a time to celebrate the holidays their family’s special traditions. Winter break is an exciting and energizing time that is often filled with spontaneity, relaxed schedules, and lowered expectations. For children that struggle with transitions, or benefit from schedules, it can be very difficult to get kids back on track and excited to go back to school.

Here are three tips for parents to help their child be ready for back to school.

#1 Talk to your child about and prepare for the upcoming schedule change

Letting kids know about upcoming schedule changes saves loads of stress. The hustle and bustle of the holidays leaves many kids wondering what’s next. Making sure there are no surprises for children in their schedule helps them anticipate and mentally prepare. Taking some time to prepare and put out clothing the night before the first day back helps the transition back to school go more smoothly.

#2 Readjust sleep and wake times

Getting kids to wake up in time for the morning bus doesn’t need to be a fight. Preparing kids to go back to school after winter break should include getting them to bed at a set time, so that they can wake up when they need to. Starting a sleep routine that prepares kids to wake up with a ready-to-learn attitude is great way to have kids return to school. Kids with predictable bedtimes wake up predictably. If your child has been staying up and sleeping in, helping them get their schedule back on track will help lessen the shock of back to school.

# 3 Discuss and be excited about learning

Fostering excitement and passion for learning is a great way to get kids ready to go back to school. Talking to your child about their friends, class, and what they were learning about before break communicates to them that school is important. Showing excitement and enthusiasm for school will also get your child ready to head back with a positive attitude.

Jeff LaPonsie LMSW

Jeff LaPonsie is a clinical social worker at Kalamazoo Child and Family Counseling, PLLC. He provides counseling to children and families in the Kalamazoo, Portage, Mattawan, and South West Michigan area. He is passionate about helping challenging children and frustrated parents. Jeff has over seven years of experience working with at risk youth. His clinical expertise includes working with children with behavioral, anxiety, attachment and trauma related disorders.

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