The final stretch before winter break arrives with a mix of excitement and overwhelm. Students are juggling tests, quizzes, projects, performances, athletics, and the general bustle of the season, while families are juggling… everything else. It’s a whirlwind, and even the most organized households can feel stretched thin.
Yet this time of year also an opportunity to help kids build healthy habits, pace themselves, and understand their own academic rhythms. With some small shifts in how we structure time and talk about schoolwork, families can create space for rest and support students in feeling capable and prepared.
Below, Dr. Mary Corbelli, Uluru’s Director of Parent Communications and Learning Specialist at The Spence School, shares practical strategies to help students navigate these busy weeks with confidence.
Protecting Time During the Busiest Weeks of the Year
For many students, the final week before break is stacked with major assessments and last-minute deadlines. Asking your child when their big projects or tests are due opens the door to collaborative planning—one of the most effective ways of managing student stress.
If the weekend before break is already jam-packed with holiday activities, it may help to reassess. Performances, rehearsals, and sports often continue at full speed, but families can still carve out dedicated time for studying, rest, and preparation. Being intentional with the schedule reduces overwhelm and makes the week ahead feel far more manageable.
The Thursday–Friday Reset: Planning to Prevent Panic
By Thursday or Friday, most families feel ready to collapse into the weekend. Yet this is the ideal moment to look ahead and identify non-negotiables: games, rehearsals, family commitments, community events. Once you see the shape of the weekend, it becomes easier to protect time for studying or longer-term projects. This kind of quick pre-planning (sometimes just five minutes) spares kids the Sunday-night dread of realizing they’re completely overwhelmed with schoolwork. It also helps preserve the joy of the weekend, rather than overshadowing it with last-minute panic.
Rest First, Then Begin: Building Early Momentum
Rest matters—deeply. Many kids truly need a slower Saturday morning or extra sleep after a long week. But pairing rest with a small early start on schoolwork can significantly reduce academic stress throughout the weekend. Dr. Corbelli suggests helping kids do just one small thing within an hour of waking up on Saturday: reading an assignment sheet, doing a few math problems, or drafting the first sentences of an essay. Even 20 minutes sends a powerful message to the brain: I’ve begun.
Momentum is the antidote to procrastination. And for kids who struggle with task initiation, this early touchpoint builds confidence heading into Sunday. Students may push back—and that is normal. Try framing it as one-day experiment rather than a new permanent rule, and pair it with something motivating: extra friend time on Sunday, video games after dinner, or a fun outing once the early task is done.
Keeping Study Time Manageable
Kids facing several assessments may not know where to begin, which heightens school anxiety. Chunking study time into short, focused segments with breaks creates a rhythm that feels achievable and reduces cognitive overload. Help your child choose the smallest possible starting point. Often, it’s not the work itself that’s hard—it’s getting started.
Talking About High-Pressure Academics Without Increasing Anxiety
Parents often want to support their child, but certain phrases can unintentionally raise academic stress. Instead of:
“Why aren’t you studying?”
Try Dr. Corbelli’s reframe:
“What do you need to do between now and the break to feel as good as possible going into vacation?”
This approach preserves your child’s sense of agency, communicates empathy, and shifts the conversation from pressure to partnership. It also shows your child that you believe in their ability to manage their workload and that you’re there to help, without heightening their school anxiety.
Managing Holiday Stress Without Passing It On
Parents carry their own holiday pressure: deadlines, commitments, expectations, travel, hosting, caring for extended family. Without meaning to, that stress can spill over into conversations about school and magnify a child’s academic worries. Dr. Corbelli encourages parents to pause before raising homework or studying if they feel emotionally charged. Give yourself space before you check in with your child. That pause protects them from absorbing adult stress, reduces the likelihood of shutdown or perfectionism, and keeps school conversations grounded in calm support.
We’re Here to Help!
This season can feel intense for students, but it’s also a chance to help them practice pacing, self-awareness, communication, and healthy planning—skills that matter far beyond December. With thoughtful routines and supportive conversations, families can reduce academic stress and help kids step into break feeling proud, prepared, and at peace.
And if you’re looking for tools that help students break down assignments, stay on track, and feel more in control during busy weeks, Uluru is here to help. We specialize in student workload management and building the metacognitive habits that give kids confidence—especially during the busiest moments of the school year.
