For a high school student, there’s probably no greater expression of freedom than the summer holidays. We can all remember that exhilarating rush of hearing the school bell marking the end of a busy year and that golden feeling of having weeks upon weeks of unfilled time stretching out in front of us.
However, something a lot of high school students grapple with is the resulting slap to the face that is the new school term when it finally arrives after those lazy days of summer festivities and fun. After so long away from school, many families find it difficult to get students back into their routine and school-centric mindset. And with a lot of sources out there saying that ‘smart’ or ‘successful’ students spend their break studying, and that your kids are behind if they aren’t doing the same, the pressure on parents to ensure their secondary school-aged children are kept busy with homework can feel enormous.
Fun fuels motivation and a healthy mindset
Monash University alumnus and proud lifelong learner Manoj Arachige boasts an impressive educational background. With an MD and a Bachelor of Medical Science with Honors, his academic excellence is marked by achievements like the Monash Scholarship for Outstanding Achievement and participation in the Monash Minds Program. In 2019, Manoj channelled his passion for education into founding KIS Academics, a company that provides private and online tutoring services to school students across Australia.
He’s pushing back on those claims that school holidays for high school students should be laser-focused on schoolwork.
“Absolutely false,” he told EducationDaily. “Relaxing can be just as productive because it improves your mindset, which improves your motivation, which improves your study. However, what you can do is encourage your high-schooler to rejuvenate themselves in the most helpful way to suit their own unique needs and habits.”
While scrolling online, binge-watching streaming services, and sleeping the day away are tried and tested ways of teen enjoyment (and activities Mr Arachige believes should not be underestimated), he says that, if overdone, they do make it harder to adjust back to school life.
EducationDaily asked him for a few ideas to make the transition back to school easier – pointers that can help your teenager get their much-needed and well-deserved rest and rejuvenation, but also make sure that they’re set up well for the 2024 school year ahead. Of course, it’s important to remember that every teen is different, so he recommends sifting through the list to find something that will best suit yours.
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A classic one, but still good: Have them read their book for English (or Literature)
If your child is someone who likes (or simply doesn’t mind) reading, they can read their books for English ahead of time. Most classroom teachers recommend that the first read-through is for leisure anyway and will then go through excerpts of the books analytically with their students. If they don’t like reading too much, try using the audiobook! The voice actors bring the story to life, which can make it easier to process the plot and keep the characters straight – this is especially helpful if your child’s book is a classic such as Shakespeare, Euripides, or Austen, where a lot of old vocabulary is involved. They can listen to it while on a run, or doing chores around the house – not needing to hold a book or read the words makes it quite versatile.
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Help them refresh their desk space (and speak to them about what helps them study while you’re doing it)
It might feel like a bit of a cheat or reason just to buy more stuff, but having a clean space really does improve our mindset and focus. Liking your study space means you’re more likely to actually use it, and as we know, starting is often half the battle! If your high-schooler loves shopping, try directing that at school, and discussing with them what new notebooks / planners / pens they might need, or doing a little back-to-school haul.
This one may be a little less academic, but it’s a good one to do a few weeks out from the new term to get your child thinking about school again. Plus, there’s nothing wrong with having a little fun with your school kit / study space. This also has the added benefit of inherently coercing your teen into getting organised with a nice new diary etc. before term starts.
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Give them the gift of inspiration
Consider online courses / short courses / video programs / a book in something they’re interested in (also good to tick one of those Christmas presents of the list!). It’s completely normal that not every student likes every subject at school. Inevitably, some things can be a bit of a drag, and this can be draining or demotivating for your high schooler. One of the above options is a great way of showing them that learning doesn’t always mean assessments, and it can help them further explore one of their interests. It’s also great because their minds will keep active over the break, but they don’t feel like it’s just more study, because it’s something they’re interested in. This gift could also be an experience, like museum tickets, or tickets to a music or theatre show – relevant to something they like.
The good news is that it doesn’t even have to be fancy – watch a movie relating to something they’re interested in – eg. something science-related for your budding biologist – there are plenty of great pseudo-documentaries out there about real events of interest (space missions, historical figures, politicians, etc.) Pick your child’s field of interest and work with that to help them rekindle their knowledge through seeing it played out and enjoy seeing something they’re interested in becoming the subject of the silver screen.
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Build good exercise habits
If there’s a sport you play with your child, try doing this regularly. If they like to walk / exercise on their own, encourage them to do so frequently. As it gets closer to the start of term, encourage them to do so at the same time every day to build a healthy routine and form habits so that they continue throughout the school year. If they don’t have a sport / walk etc., maybe time to get them into the groove.
Most gyms / swimming pools etc. have a free trial period, and what better time to use it than when your child actually has the time to spend testing it out?Most high-schoolers (especially older ones) find their fitness routine drops off during the stresses of semester. Building these habits during the holidays is healthy for them now, plus sets them up to have a healthier school year after the break – in body and mindset (exercise is an excellent de-stressor, as we all know).
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Engage in their work with them
Chances are, they’ve been set holiday homework. More than just checking they’ve done it, chat to them about what it involves, if they think it’s useful or not, why they think the teacher set it, any issues they’ve had and how they fixed them. Not only does this engage analytical and problem-solving processes in their brain, but it also encourages them to do the work in the first place without explicitly reminding them to do so. Another good tip is to ensure they spread the work out – it will only serve its purpose of keeping their brains and memories active if a little is done every week, rather than one marathon session right before term starts.
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Have a chat
Talk to your high-schooler about their subjects for the next year, reasons for choosing them, any predicted areas of difficulty, and any goals. Even topics like if they think they’ll like their teacher, worries about finding a classroom, etc. are useful. Conversations like these prompt your child to think about the new year and mean they go into their next round of schooling with a clear head, knowing what they are looking to get out of each subject. One of the more common motivation types is extrinsic – motivated by those around us. Conversations like these have the added benefit of potentially motivating your high schooler to put a little more effort in as well.
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Let them sleep in!
The key thing is to make sure it’s the right kind of sleep – starting before midnight and not interrupted with screens. Ease your night owls back into school routine by encouraging progressively earlier sleeps / wake ups in the last week or so before term starts, that way the first day back isn’t such a shock to the system.
Overall, Mr Arachige told EducationDaily it’s important that teenagers do rest up and recharge, otherwise they start a new year carrying old fatigue.
“But that doesn’t mean they have to go completely numb and disengaged,” he says. “There are small ways of making sure they still engage their brains, foster a love of learning, plan for the new year, and build good habits to see them manage the level-up of a new school year.”