Students love getting a break from school. Winter break is no exception. It’s great to have a few weeks off to play with friends and watch TV. However, when it’s time to go back, that few weeks can make it hard for kids to transition back into a structured learning environment. Here are a few tips for a successful transition back to school after a break.

Go to Bed on Time

One of the perks of a break is that children often get to stay up a little later than they usually would at night. There’s nothing wrong with giving your children a little extra fun time before bed. However, in order to get them back in the habit of getting a good night’s sleep, and waking up ready to learn, you can have them go to bed and wake up at their regular time for the last few days of their break. This way, the first day back at school isn’t the first day that they’re struggling to wake up early again. By getting them back in the groove for a few days beforehand, they’ll have an easier time managing the school day and coursework and classmates and all the other things that come with being back at school.

Replenish School Supplies

One way to help get students excited to go back (and help their teachers in the process) is to make sure your students have everything they need to participate in class. Do your children need new folders or notebooks? How about their pencils, pens, and art supplies? Are they running out of the tissues or paper towels they use in class? You can inquire with your child’s teacher(s) about what they might need. Then you and your student can go school shopping together. By bringing this beginning-of-the-year ritual into the middle of the year, you help create an atmosphere of excitement and expectation for your students.

Catch Up on Schoolwork

Breaks are important. But they’re also an opportunity to catch up on work that we may have fallen behind on. Are there any classes or concepts that your student could use some extra help with? The winter break is a great time to get a little extra practice. If your child is struggling to keep up with reading in class, you can incorporate holiday reading practice into your winter break. This helps to keep the season festive while also making it productive. If your child’s teacher sent home any optional practice work, encourage them to take a few minutes every day to work on the skills they need to improve. They can also use their schoolbooks to review and do practice work. It’s not necessary to do schoolwork during a break, but it can be a good way to stay sharp for the return to class.

Finally, in the days before school starts, talk to your child about their goals for the next semester. What do they plan to accomplish? What are the things they want to improve? Are there clubs or activities they want to join? By helping your child to think about going back to school as an opportunity, you prepare them to make the most of the return to the classroom.