Ah, the school holidays are finally here! We all just want to switch off, soak up the good vibes and melt away the stress that was Term 1. It’s been a very long and tiring term of adjustment and keeping our teenagers moving— and if you’re desperately in need of a good break and recharge, then we’ve got you sorted.
Although we’re excited about downtime, a number of you might also be feeling what we call the holiday tug-of-war. One part of you just wants to unwind and bond over the holidays, but another part also understands how equally important it is for your child to be ready for Term 2.
And we hear you. The best way to avoid a repeat of the panic and hard conversations you had with your teen last term is to make sure your child’s head is in the game when the whistle blows for Term 2 – but they can’t just keep going with no break right? Surely that’s not healthy?
Holidays are personal time, but your child needs a personalised strategy at the same time because while school holidays help students reduce stress and burnout, they do also leave room for the breeding of unfavourable study habits. Remember that festering petri dish back in science class… THAT. After weeks of holidays and chilling, teens can go back to being night owls, awake till the wee hours of the morning. The lack of a structured routine can also cause or bring back procrastination and time management issues. It’s no wonder kids struggle to get back into good study habits after being left to fester, unstructured for 2 weeks on a sugar high.
If any of this sounds familiar to you, recharging over the holidays could also mean rebooting your child’s study habits. Keeping the momentum you’ve built in Term 1 is critical so your child can finally smash it in Term 2 like you know they’re capable of!
This might sound hard to do, but it’s really quite easy to personalise a plan to get them straight back into good study habits from Day 1.
To ensure your child reaches their potential and doesn’t get left behind in Term 2, grab our Term 2 Readiness Checklist.
Grabbed your copy?
Here’s 5 more simpler ways to help them get pumped and ready for school before Term 2 begins.
#1 Set up your child’s study space, tools & systems.
A messy environment reflects a messy mind. Minimise study resistance and improve motivation by preparing their learning environment and different tools that cater to their unique learning needs. If they struggle with getting organised, design an organisation system that’s easy for them to work with. For example, if your child has dyslexia or is adept at visual learning, use a folder system with colour-coded labels.
Your child can always use a diary or calendar to organise all the information, but writing down information for whenever something comes up won’t be enough. It must be proactive and ‘in their face,’ especially when using digital planners.
Start with a weekly planner that your child can draw up or print visually and save in easy-access areas: their bedroom door or above the study desk. The goal is to make their planners easily seen and accessed.
Backup systems for their work could also be set up, especially If your child misplaces assignments or your dog has a knack for chewing on them. Technology and the cloud make digital file storage seamless, but ensure your child checks all boxes during set-up and it’s actually syncing. The last thing you want is another moment of panic where a paper due tomorrow vanishes without a trace…check and check again!
#2 Sync with your child’s timetable.
Some schools publish student timetables earlier than others, which are commonly accessible via their school learning portals (though release times can vary between year levels and schools). Get in sync with your child’s daily schedule, understand their typical school day, and build an effective routine around it.
Routines make a child feel safe and support them in building healthy habits. With their daily timetable in mind, you can help them run their day smoothly, from getting ready to go to school to their designated study times at home, without sacrificing quality time with family.
#3 Reset the body clock.
After weeks of holidays, your child has probably become a certified night owl, awake till the wee hours of the morning. Shifting their body clock earlier in Term 2 can be challenging when done abruptly, so it’s better to adjust their bedtime by increments of no more than 30 minutes each night leading up to Day 1.
The key here is to start early and not rush the transition. Any overly aggressive correction or change in timing can cause sleep lag and interfere with their circadian rhythms, leading to more damage than good. A good window for transition is 7 days before the start of the term so that you can build a healthy bedtime habit, not just a temporary change.
#4 Sit down with your child and set clear goals.
It’s perfectly normal for students to still be figuring out their long-term goals and how to get there. While they still have time to establish their goals, a lack of direction in school can unfortunately encourage unhelpful study habits like too much social media, avoiding schoolwork, and procrastination.
Before Term 2 starts, have a chat with your child and work together to set clear, SMART goals. For Years 11-12, this might involve rankings or university courses, while for Years 7-10, it could focus on mastering subjects and studying smarter. Encourage them to write these goals down to stay accountable. Decide on progress metrics and timelines with check-in points for accountability.
#5 List down questions and look out for missing items.
As a parent, is there anything you want to clarify in your child’s syllabus or curriculum? Are there things your child remains uncertain about in their subjects, assessments or projects? Have you noticed a difference between what their teacher expects and your child’s actual results?
If your child has any questions or uncertainties about school, jot them down so you can keep an eye on them. Then, you can work together with your child to figure things out step by step as the term progresses.
The key towards a more effective and powerful study routine for Term 2 is parent and child collaboration. Creating a personalised study strategy that aligns with your child’s unique learning profile is going to minimise resistance and improve their resilience for the challenges they might face ahead.
With tailored support and targeted interventions, your child is going to experience significant improvement in their marks, work at their optimal learning levels, and regain their self-confidence.
If you want a fuss-free Term 2 prep to enjoy the holidays, grab our Year 7-12 Term 2 Readiness Checklist to give you that winning edge. Grab it and slowly check off the items in the list throughout the holidays. It’s THAT easy!
If you’re just excited to learn more about tailoring your child’s study plan for optimal results, book a free discovery session with our Education Strategist. It takes 15-30 minutes to get started on your child’s winning strategy.
