Returning to School After Spring Break
Most kids look forward to the freedom of spring break, with no classes to attend, no homework to complete, and maybe a trip away from home if you’ve planned one. But spring break can also be disruptive to their schedule without the structure of the school day enforcing wake-up times, bedtimes, or even regular meals. While your kid may not mind this diversion from “real life,” when spring break is over, the return to their pre-break schedule can be jarring. This is especially true if your child or teen has ADHD, as a predictable routine can help keep symptoms under control.
Keep reading to learn how to refocus after spring break with eight easy tips and why you may want to keep your kid’s schedule intact even when school’s not in session.
Tips on How to Send Kids Back to School After Breaks
With a little bit of planning, the transition back to school can be a smooth one, allowing your child or teen to return feeling motivated and refreshed. The following eight tips should be implemented during spring break (or even before it’s begun) to best prepare.
1. Start Readjusting a Few Days Early
If you’ve let your kid’s schedule fall to the wayside, don’t attempt to set it straight on the first day of school unless you’re up for a protest. Ease back into their school routine gradually by readjusting their bedtime and wake-up time a few days before school starts. This can help minimize the shock of returning to an early morning schedule. Ideally, you’ll want to keep their wake-up time and bedtime the same as it is during school throughout break, but we know this isn’t always possible if you have trips planned, especially if they’re in other time zones.
2. Help Organize Their Tasks + Your Own
Invest in a day planner and work with your child to organize their tasks and responsibilities for the upcoming weeks. If they’ve received schoolwork to complete over spring break, create a visual schedule or checklist to help them stay on track and manage their time effectively.
3. Review Class Material
Spring break should mainly be a time of rest and rejuvenation, but a little review won’t hurt. Take some time before break is over to go over the latest class material together so your child picks up where they left off. Don’t sweat it too hard, though. Their teacher will also have a plan in place to ease them back into the swing of things and work those memory recall muscles.
4. Reconnect Your Kids with Their Classmates
These days it’s easy for kids to stay in touch with their classmates, even if they’re not seeing them every day. Encourage video calls (ideally over constant texting) and schedule playdates and meet-ups to maintain their connections.
5. Reflect on Goals
It’s easier to slip back into the school routine when there’s something to look forward to. Sit down with your child and reflect on their goals for the remainder of the school year. Discuss any areas where they may want to improve or set new objectives to work towards. Be sure these goals are specific and broken down into small, achievable tasks.
6. Prioritize Hydration & Proper Nutrition
Don’t let spring break be a break from healthy eating. Whether your family is going out of town or staying local, try to eat your meals at regular times just as you would during the rest of the school year. Stock up on nutritious foods, including plenty of fruits and vegetables and make sure your child is hydrating regularly, especially as temperatures start to gradually get warmer. Studies have proven there is a correlation between poor nutrition and worsened ADHD symptoms like irritability, inattention, and hyperactivity. While high-fat diets and excess sugar won’t necessarily cause ADHD, they can exacerbate symptoms and establish poor dietary habits.1
In addition to eating well, be sure your child is not neglecting other healthy habits during spring break. They should get plenty of sleep and exercise regularly to maintain their mental and physical health. Don’t overdo it on screen time either, which can make your child or teen irritable when used in excess. And try practicing mindfulness and relaxation techniques during break, especially if your child is finding it difficult to deal with the disruption of not going to school every day. Establishing and maintaining healthy habits during spring break is a great way to prepare for the return to school as your child will arrive equipped with tools and skills to use throughout the rest of the year.
7. Try OTC Medications like Brillia to Help Refocus
In addition to ensuring your child or teen is following healthy habits at home, you may want to try medication during spring break if you feel they can benefit from extra support when it comes to regulating their attention, mood, emotions, and behavior. One option is Brillia, a non-prescription medication clinically-proven to reduce symptoms like anxiety, hyperactivity, restlessness, inattention, and impulsivity without harsh, synthetic chemicals or harmful side effects. Brillia works by targeting the brain-specific S100B protein, an important biomarker related to mood, learning, and attention. Without altering blood chemistry or affecting any other systems in the body, Brillia promotes a balanced mood, improves attention, and increases motivation without any off-target side effects like nausea, drowsiness, or headaches. As a gentle and cumulative medication, Brillia must be taken two to three weeks in advance of returning to school so it can build up in the system and work most effectively. Starting the medication before or at the start of spring break is a great way to prepare your child to take on the rest of the year with clarity, focus, and a more balanced mood. Learn more about how Brillia works for children ages 5-18.
8. Ask for Help when Needed
Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. There are plenty of therapists, counselors, coaches, books, and experts that can help you meet your child’s needs, whether they have ADHD, anxiety, a learning difference, or you just think they need some extra support. Take time during spring break to reach out for help and devise an actionable plan. And find more tips and resources at the Brillia(nce) Resource Center.
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References: 1https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9322602/
