The expert named ways to make it easier for children to adapt to school after the New Year holidays.

After the New Year holidays, it can be difficult for children to immediately return to the learning rhythm: sleep gets lost, the daily routine changes, and concentration decreases. Gulnara Orlova, Director of Insurance Products and Customer Experience Development at Rosgosstrakh Life, told Izvestia on January 8 how to help a child adapt to the usual pace after a long weekend.

According to her, long holidays inevitably relax: children go to bed later, wake up longer and spend more time playing games and gadgets. In the early days of school, this can manifest itself as drowsiness, irritability, and difficulty getting involved in school. The expert recommends starting by monitoring the child's current regime and gradually returning to the usual schedule a few days before school — ending evening activities earlier, reducing screen time and building calm evenings and more cheerful mornings. This approach helps to avoid sudden transitions and makes the start of studies more predictable.

"When sleep and the general rhythm have stabilized, you can gradually return to your usual daily routine. In the first weeks of January, it is especially important to distribute the workload so that the child does not "burn out" by the end of the month. Plan time for study, recreation, clubs and free time," Orlova said.

A short discussion of the day's plans in the morning helps the child feel more confident and reduces anxiety. This is not about strict discipline, but about the return of a comfortable rhythm for the family.

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The specialist advises paying special attention to the restoration of the body. In winter, children get tired faster, so after the holidays it is important to adjust nutrition, add vegetables and fruits to the diet and monitor the water balance. Stable sleep lasting nine to ten hours a day makes it easier to cope with the learning load. Regular airing, wet cleaning and outdoor walks are also useful, which support the immune system and overall well-being. If additional support measures are needed, the specialist emphasizes, it is worth consulting with a doctor rather than self-medicating.

According to Orlova, the return to school should take place in small steps. It is easier for a child to adapt if you set him simple and feasible tasks for the coming weeks, for example, to do homework at a certain time, read daily or walk more. It's important to mark successes, even small ones, with praise or simple visual markers. This approach gives you a sense of progress and keeps you motivated.

"If it is difficult for a child to immediately return to the previous regime, you can make the process a little easier — offer small rewards for consistent habits or come up with a common family format that supports his efforts. It will be great if you do this in the format of a game with small prizes for achievements. It reduces tension and helps to feel confident," the expert said.

On November 19, child psychologist Ekaterina Ilyicheva, in an interview with Izvestia, explained how to behave correctly to parents when a child has no motivation to study. The specialist recommends giving the minor the right to make mistakes and gradually transferring responsibility for collecting the portfolio and other independent actions to him.

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