By Jill Morgenstern

Snuggled between the end of December and the beginning of January comes every child’s real favorite holiday: Winter break! What a wonderful time to reset and relax. Bedtimes may be later, restrictions on electronics may be more lax, even chores might not be done as strictly or on schedule. But every good thing has to come to an end sometime, and usually it’s shortly after New Year’s Eve. However, there are some ways to make the transition back to school an easier one.

Plan a play date — If your child is overwhelmed by the thought of having to reintegrate into a classroom full of children, meeting with a friend one-on-one might help them remember the good parts about classroom life. 

Play “Back to School” — For Kindergarten and preschool, it may help help to role-play going back to school. If you do this in an entertaining, lighthearted way, it can be fun and your child may have no idea you were getting him or her ready all along.

Reintroduce school time rules — If you are able, begin to implement the old screen time or bedtime rules a few days ahead of time. That way it won’t come as such a shock to your child when school restarts.

Create a schedule together — This can be helpful at any time, but it’s especially important when looking forward to a new year. It is particularly important if your child does sports or other activities. Make sure to squeeze in time not only for homework, but also for breaks. Completing this task together gives your child a sense of empowerment throughout his or her day.

Review notes — If your child is in upper elementary or middle school, the last couple of days of winter break is a great time to review notes, especially in classes where your child may be struggling. However, this review should be short enough not to frustrate your child. You want memories of winter break to be warm and welcoming, not full of strife and struggle.

Grocery shop — Collect plenty of snacks and get everything ready for lunches for the new year! This will make your mornings easier and keep morning mayhem at bay.

Organize your child’s study space — Pencils and paper will be much easier to find if they are in their customary place. If winter break was a messy, chaotic success, the house might be a total mess! But carving out this one little sanctuary will help those first few days of homework go that much smoother.

Plan self-care — The return to school can be much harder on some children than others, but all can benefit from a little self care. Whether it’s playing with a much-loved stuffed animal or pet, coloring, or taking a relaxing bubble bath, self care activities can reduce stress, making the transition back to school that much easier.

Set a bedtime routine — If you haven’t set one before now, this is the perfect time to set a bedtime routine. A relaxing bedtime routine can benefit everyone from the smallest babies up to their parents and even grandparents. Whether it is reading stories, dimming the lights a little before bedtime, or having a soothing bath, this helps your child’s body know it’s time to get ready to sleep.

Helping children get set to go back to school involves both physical and mental needs. By gradually adjusting their schedules from home to school, children can thrive rather than struggle during a time that is well known for causing problems adjusting. By keeping children involved in this process and keeping communication open, families can promote a smooth and positive start to the new school term. 

Jill Morgenstern is a mom to four and a teacher. She has a Master’s degree in teaching reading.