TL;DR: Adjusting back to your routine after winter break can be a challenge. Luckily, with plenty of prep for the week and some preemptive conversations with your little ones, it can go smoother than you think.
Getting Back To Your Routine After Winter Break
Winter break over? Getting back to your routine after winter break can be surprisingly challenging. In the summer, there is plenty of newness to look forward to with the new school year. New classroom, new teacher, new school supplies, new clothes, and much more. However, winter break offers its own set of challenges that make it more difficult to adjust to than summer break. Whether your winter break has been over, but your child is still adjusting or if they are just going back this week, we have some tips to help. Keep reading to learn some easy ways you can get back into your routine after winter break and the products that will be your secret weapons through it all.
Resetting Your Body Clocks
Winter break equals cozy food and cozy habits. Because of this, one of the most difficult parts of adjusting back to life after winter break is resetting our body clocks. When possible, try your best to wake up your child a little earlier in the days leading up to school or daycare.
Re-Engaging Their Brains
Everyone needs a break, even your children. Didn’t get around to much reading, homework, or learning with your child throughout the winter break to keep them “sharp”? That’s okay! You were creating core memories with your child for the holidays, and that’s most important.
Re-engaging your child’s brain doesn’t have to be a huge task; it can be simple things, such as:
- Reading for 20 minutes together every day
- Setting goals together for the months ahead
- Practicing writing together for 20 minutes a day
Making Mornings as Easy as Possible
As you already know, mornings can be hectic and unpredictable. Keeping your child on track in the mornings throughout the school year is already hard; now we are throwing in the extra unpredictability of back-to-school lagging, emotions, and much more, which can be tough for parents to deal with.
As such, prepping to make mornings as easy as possible is important throughout the school year, but most important when you’re heading back after a long break.
Some easy tips include:
- Inventory check the night before school for supplies, homework, and projects
- Picking out an outfit the night before and laying it out
- Packing lunch, snacks, and waterbottles the night before to easily grab
Innobaby Stainless Divided Snackbox
Innobaby's Keepin' Fresh Stainless Steel Snack Box is a SMART food storage solution for home and on-the-go. Great for storing sandwiches, pastas, veggies, and more, our unique divided design keeps food separated and mess-free!
The double-lined wall keeps food cold or warm up to 2 times longer than standard containers while acting as a protective shell to protect little hands from extreme temperatures. The airtight hinged lid is a snap to open and close, seals in freshness, and is simple enough for toddlers and small children to use.
The perfectly portioned stainless steel bentos are easy to wash, too, thanks to the removable stainless insert. Top rack dishwasher safe. Innobaby's Keepin' Fresh Bentos are also freezer safe, BPA-free, phthalate-free, PVC-free, and lead-free.
Din Din SMART All Stainless Spoon & Fork Set with Case
Innobaby's Din Din SMART Utensil Set and case is perfect for school lunch boxes or any time your kids have a meal on the go!
The convenient storage case keeps the utensils separate from other items in your bag or lunchbox, preventing the mess from dirty forks and spoons.
Sized just right for kids, our cutlery set is perfect for children transitioning from toddler utensils to larger-sized cutlery (just like mom and dad's!). Made from high-quality, type 304, food-grade stainless steel, dishwasher safe, and made in South Korea.
Safety tested to the highest quality standards, our dining sets are BPA-free, phthalate-free, PVC-free, and lead-free.
Kinderspel Insulated Backpack / Lunchbag
These adorable toddler backpacks are fully insulated and double as a lunch bag to keep food and drinks fresher longer.
With fully adjustable shoulder straps and an additional Velcro chest strap that snaps across your child’s chest to help keep the backpack securely in place, kids love carrying around their favorite toys and snacks (just like a big kid), and parents love the removable tether option to keep independent kids close.
Fashionable and functional, our All-in-One Toddler Backpacks are available in an array of adorable designs you and your kids will love. The backpack measures 9.5"h x 7.5"w x 2.5"d, which is perfect for children 18 months and up.
FAQ
Q: How can I prep for an easy school morning?
A: You can make school mornings much easier by prepping lunch, snacks, water bottles, and outfits the night before. Have conversations to manage expectations and do an inventory check for all supplies, books, and projects.
Q: What are easy ways to adjust back to school mode after vacation?
A: Talking with your child, re-engaging their brain, and doing as much prep as possible are great ways for parents to help their children readjust back into school mode after a fun, cozy winter vacation.
Q: How can I manage emotions at school drop-off?
A: Emotions can be big at drop-off after winter break. You might experience this in the first week or two back to school. Make sure you have plenty of conversations with your child about expectations, the fun they will have, and give them something to look forward to later.
Written by Jaclyn Uloth, Marketing copywriter and Mom of 3 boys, 5 and under