Surviving and Thriving During the Mid-Year Slump

What happened to your child’s enthusiasm that was there at the beginning of the year when they wanted to go to school on the weekend? Your child couldn’t wait to go to school, and now, they may be struggling with getting out of bed, or you may be hearing, “Do I have to go to school today?” Motivation seems to be at an all-time low. 

The mid-year slump is a common phenomenon in schools, affecting students and teachers. Spring break is still weeks away, and the end-of-year finish line is way out of reach. However, with the right strategies and support, you can help your child overcome the mid-year slump and rekindle their enthusiasm for learning. 

One way to break out of the slump is to revisit, with your child, their goals for the year. During the fall conferences, teachers often share the goals your child had for the school year. Discuss with your child the progress you see as they work towards that goal. If your child’s goal at the beginning of the year was to learn to read chapter books, you might want to show them a chapter book they read in the fall and compare it to what they are reading now. If learning to divide was a math goal, give them a few division problems and have them solve them while you watch them work through the problem. Comment on what they did well and how it looks different now. Encourage them now to set new goals and rekindle motivation to practice and improve their skill set.

Another approach is to have your child create a calendar for the last few months of school. Use the calendar to highlight upcoming events, such as a family member’s birthday, an out-of-town trip, or family or friends coming into town to visit. Making a calendar of events not only provides a “looking forward” attitude but is also great practice in organizing and planning, which is a necessary executive functioning skill that helps with sequencing, timing, and due dates.

Providing choice and ownership when possible also helps your child take on some tasks that may feel repetitive or wearisome. Is there some flexibility on the timing of homework or household chores? When students feel empowered in a small way, they often take on the “to-do” list with a renewed sense of purpose.  

Sometimes, when a child is feeling stuck in the doldrums of winter, trying a new activity, book, or experience can provide a renewed interest. Signing up for an outdoor sports class or grabbing a new board game to play in the evenings or on weekends adds some fun to the winter routine.

 Also, at this time of the year, negativity can creep in, and helping your child feel gratitude can keep the days look a bit brighter. In Lower School assemblies, students have been urged to find moments of “awe,” such as watching a beautiful snowfall, having a steaming cup of hot chocolate after being outside, or climbing into a warm bed on a cold night. Finding one point of gratitude each day is a good practice, and research shows that people who find gratitude in their lives tend to be happier and less depressed. 

The mid-year slump has the potential to be a challenging period for students, but with the right strategies and support, families can get through it! By employing some of these strategies, your child can persevere and thrive throughout the entire school year, not just at the beginning and end.