Back to School: How to Ease Your Child Back into Learning After the Holidays

The school shoes are polished, the lunchbox is packed... but is your child ready to start learning again?

After six weeks of sunshine, lie-ins and screen time, getting back into the school mindset can be a bit of a challenge – for children and parents alike. Whether your child loved the break or struggled without routine, the return to school is a great opportunity to reintroduce learning habits in a calm, positive way.

Here are five easy ways to help your child ease back into studying after the summer holidays:

📅 1. Ease Back into Routine

The sudden jump from lazy mornings to school runs can be a shock to the system. In the last week of the holidays, start shifting bedtimes and wake-ups back to school-friendly hours. Even just getting dressed earlier and having breakfast at the table can help reset your child’s internal clock.

📚 2. Reintroduce Learning Gently

You don’t need to go straight into homework mode. Try light, low-pressure activities like:

• Reading a fun book together

• Solving a few riddles or puzzles at breakfast

• Playing a quick mental maths game in the car

These little moments help switch the brain back on without it feeling like work.

✍️ 3. Talk Positively About the New School Year

Children take their cues from us. Try talking about the new term with optimism and curiosity:

• “What are you looking forward to?”

• “What do you hope to learn this year?”

• “I wonder what exciting things your teacher has planned…”

This helps reduce any back-to-school nerves and sets a positive tone for the weeks ahead.

🎯 4. Set Some Gentle Goals

Children love to feel a sense of progress. Talk about what they’d like to achieve this term:

• Reading a certain number of books

• Learning all their times tables

• Becoming more confident with writing

You could even create a small tracker or reward chart together. Keep it simple and celebratory – not pressured.

🧑‍🏫 5. Consider Extra Support if Needed

If your child struggled last year or fell behind, now is a great time to put support in place early. A tutor can help them:

• Rebuild confidence after the break

• Fill any gaps that widened over summer

• Start the year feeling calm, prepared and ready to learn

Need a Helping Hand?

At Little Smiles, Big Success Tutoring, we specialise in helping primary-aged children build confidence, close gaps and rediscover the joy of learning – especially after a long break.

If you’d like support getting your child school-ready this term, I’d love to help. Get in touch to book a friendly, no-pressure consultation.