By gently guiding your child back into a learning mindset with engaging, hands-on activities, you’ll set them up for a smooth transition back to school.

We’re nearly at the end of the holidays! But as the days start to blend together, and screen time begins to creep up, it’s the perfect moment to gently ease children back into a learning mindset. Don’t worry - it doesn’t have to be a sudden shift. With a little creativity, you can help your child transition from holiday mode to a more balanced routine that mixes fun with learning.

Acknowledge the Screen Time

With the holiday excitement and more relaxed rules, screen time might have taken centre stage. And that’s okay! Screens have kept kids entertained, connected, and even learning in different ways. But now is probably a good time to start scaling back and reintroducing some more hands-on, engaging activities that can reignite their curiosity.

Tap into their Interests

Instead of making it feel like you’re pulling them away from their screens, try to build on what they’ve been enjoying. 

Our Founder, Adam Caller, emphasises the importance of a strength-based education, where learning is centred around a child’s unique interests and talents:

“In private tutoring, we see time after time how focusing on a child's individual interests and talents, and adapting teaching styles and lesson planning to complement them, results in a child who is more interested and eager to learn.”

If they’ve been glued to a particular game, could they take that interest offline? Maybe they can create a board game version of their favourite video game or draw their own characters and stories. If they’ve been eating you out of house and home, encourage them to help out with some baking. By connecting screen activities with real-world tasks, you’ll help them see that learning doesn’t just happen on a device - or in the classroom.

Create a New Routine

Now is a good time to start introducing a gentle routine that balances fun with learning. This doesn’t mean a strict schedule but rather a predictable flow to the day. You could designate a “creative hour” in the morning where they can draw, build or write, followed by some outdoor time. In the afternoon, you might set aside time for family-wide reading time or a hands-on project. Mixing in these activities with their screen time will make the transition smoother and more enjoyable.

Get Hands-On with Learning

One of the best ways to ease kids back into a learning mindset is through hands-on, experiential activities. Now that they’ve had some good relaxation time, they might be more open to trying something new. This could be anything from a simple kitchen science experiment to building a birdhouse, or even starting a holiday scrapbook. These activities are not only fun but also subtly reintroduce problem-solving and creativity - skills that will help them get back into the groove when school starts.

Encourage Family Time

Family activities are a fantastic way to shift the focus away from screens and towards interactive learning. Whether it’s playing board games, going on a nature walk, or tackling a puzzle together, these moments are not only educational but also help strengthen family bonds. Plus, when learning is a shared experience, it feels less like a chore and more like a fun family tradition. And it’s important to role-model the behaviour you expect from them.

Balance Rest with Activity

Remember, it’s still a time for rest and relaxation, so it’s important to keep that balance. While reintroducing learning activities, make sure there’s still plenty of time for them to unwind. The goal is to create a rhythm that feels natural and enjoyable, not forced. If they see that learning can be part of their holiday fun, they’ll be more open to it.

There’s plenty of time to enjoy the best of both worlds - screen time and learning, fun and education. By gently guiding your child back into a learning mindset with engaging, hands-on activities, you’ll set them up for a smooth transition back to school. And who knows? They might discover a new hobby or passion that sticks with them long after the holidays are over.