The middle part of the school year (January through March) is an important chunk of time where there is a big focus of mastering the academics of the current school year. It can also be a time known as the mid-year slump where children’s motivation for school-related tasks can drop. There are many theories why this can occur including colder weather, shorter daylight hours, and post-holiday season blues.
Read on for 5 ways to beat the mid-year slump.
- Name it and describe it. It’s easier to tackle a problem if it is acknowledged and defined. Be bold–use the term mid-year slump and talk about what it means. Ask your child(ren) what it means to them. It can also be helpful to share a story two about how you experienced it as well.
- Have a plan to address the mid-year slump. Perhaps it’s planning some special activities or outings so there are things to look forward to. Perhaps it’s enrolling in a new afterschool class or club. Little things that add excitement and joy help to neutralize the mundane.
- Add a twist to science and art. Instead of fighting the winter blues, engage in some fun art and/or science activities to do during the dark, cold, rainy, or snowy times. If you are not sure what to do, Google “fun winter art activities” or “fun winter science experiments”.
- Add a new game to the collection. Games are a great way to entertain and engage everyone’s minds in new ways. Ask family and friends what they are playing. You are sure to get some great suggestions about a game to add to your collection!
- Reinstate family read-aloud time. Most children love being read to when they are young, but as they begin to read to themselves, this process often falls by the wayside. The winter months are a great time to bring back the activity of reading to older kids and tweens. Not sure what book to pick? Google “the best read-aloud chapter books for kids”. Don’t worry about reading to children who can read to themselves, it’s all about the shared family experience.
If this was helpful to you, you may want to consider the Big Book of Tools and or the Pocket Guide of Tools for more strategies to help your child deal with their stuff, time and information. Check out www.michelleporjes.org for information about ordering.