Restarting School in January

Excitement, Motivation, and Fresh Starts for Every Child

January is the ideal time to energise and motivate children after winter break. As routines kick in and calendar pages turn, families and teachers can use creative, hands-on activities to transform back-to-school nerves into excitement and anticipation. Here’s how to make the new term inspiring, confident, and full of discovery—with practical tips and educational guides from Hands-On Education and BBC Bitesize.

1. Start with New Year’s Goals and Resolutions

The start of a new year is perfect for discussing personal goals—academic, social, and creative.

• Chat about growth mindset: what would your child like to try, improve, or enjoy this term?
• Make a colourful goal poster or a dream jar for wishes, skills, or kindness actions.
• Use Hands-On Education’s timeline and goal printables to support reflection and planning.
• For more ideas, try goal-setting activities in BBC Bitesize’s School Life Guide.

2. Back-to-School Shopping or Workspace Refresh

A fresh notebook or fun stationery set can spark motivation.

• Take your child shopping for a new folder, pencil case, or backpack—let them choose favourite colours and designs.
• Redecorate a homework area or desk together, adding posters, storage boxes, or motivational quotes.

3. Celebrate Winter Wonders: January-Themed Learning

Make the season fun with snow and New Year projects:

• Experiment with indoor snow science—make “fake snow” with household items, learn about melting and freezing.
• Launch a snowball math challenge (count, add, or graph indoor snowballs).
• Explore winter animals, weather, and nature with Hands-On Education’s Weather and Seasons packs.

4. Reconnect with Friends and Teachers—Social Confidence

After a long break, reconnecting with peers and adults can reduce nerves.

• Plan playdates or friendly meetups before term starts, or write “happy new term” notes for classmates.
• For new school transitions, take a “practice run” to the building or classroom (as suggested by BBC counsellors).
• Share personal stories about starting a new class—children appreciate knowing adults have felt anxious or excited too.

5. Morning Routines and Sleep Reset

Reboot sleep schedules and morning habits gradually so the first day is gentle.

• Start waking a little earlier, practice breakfast routines, and agree on limits for screen time.
• Pack bags the night before, lay out uniforms, and plan a special first-day breakfast.
• Find child-friendly sleep hygiene guides via BBC Bitesize Parents’ Toolkit.

6. Create Fun January Activities

Excite children with creative content to kickstart the term:

• Host a classroom “New Year’s Resolution Wall” or home “Kindness Calendar.”
• Make a winter bar graph from family or class activities—count and display hot drinks, snow days, or reading minutes.
• Try dice games, art projects, or storytelling from Hands-On Education Activities Hub.

7. Encourage Open Discussion About Worries and Excitement

Normalize nerves and chat openly at home or in class.

• Use “I wonder…” and “What are you most/least excited for?” prompts.
• Discuss positive strategies for handling worries—deep breathing, planning something fun for the weekend, sharing with friends.
• BBC Bitesize’s Real Parents’ Tips offer gentle ways to shift anxiety into excitement (transform butterflies into “anticipation”).

8. Plan Something to Look Forward To

Book in a fun family outing, movie, project, or new book for the first weekend after school returns.

• Mark the date together so there’s a positive milestone after the transition.
• Offer encouragement and praise for all efforts—the first week can be tough but also rewarding.

9. Make Use of Free Educational Resources

Revisit printables and online guides for subject support and wellbeing:

• Find BBC Bitesize School Life Guides, educational games, subject lesson plans, and inspiration for every age.
• Explore Hands-On Education’s printable activities for science, maths, history, and wellbeing.

Closing Thought

Restarting school in January brings a fresh slate and plenty of energy. With open conversations, creative activities, social support, and a few new routines, children can embrace the term ahead confidently. Here’s to a joyful, exciting start—and a whole year of proud new learning.