The summer holidays should be a time for children to rest, enjoy themselves and step away from the pressure of school.
But let me ask parents an honest question:
Is your child enjoying a well-earned break—or have they completely fallen out of every routine?
Are they going to bed later?
Are they spending more time on their phones, tablets or games consoles?
Are they moving less?
Are simple jobs becoming an argument?
Are they becoming nervous whenever somebody mentions going back to school?
There is no judgement here.
This happens in households across Birmingham every summer. The structure of school disappears, bedtime gradually moves later, screen time increases and children lose some of the routines they previously relied upon.
However, with the new school term approaching, now is the time to start rebuilding that structure.
The aim is not to turn the rest of the summer holiday into school.
The aim is to help your child return feeling confident, focused and ready.
Why Children Can Lose Confidence During the Summer Holidays
Confidence does not usually disappear overnight.
It gradually reduces when children stop doing the things that previously gave them evidence that they were capable.
During school, children regularly have opportunities to:
During a long school holiday, many of those opportunities disappear.
Some children become less active. Others spend more time alone or online. Bedtimes move later, mornings begin later and the days can start blending into one another.
That does not make a child lazy or badly behaved.
It often means they have lost the structure that helped them manage their time, energy and emotions.
The key word is enjoyable.
Children are more likely to remain active when the activity gives them something to work towards and makes them feel that they belong.
Confidence Is Built Through Evidence
Over the last 20-plus years, I have spoken to thousands of parents.
One of the most common things I hear is:
“I just want my child to be more confident.”
The problem is that confidence cannot simply be talked into a child.
We can tell them they are brilliant.
We can tell them not to be nervous.
We can tell them they have nothing to worry about.
But confidence grows when a child does something that once felt difficult and realises:
“I managed that.”
It might be:
Walking into a new class
Introducing themselves to somebody
Learning a new technique
Answering a question
Training alongside other children
Continuing after making a mistake
Performing in front of a group
Finishing something they wanted to give up on
Every small success becomes evidence.
The more evidence children collect, the more they begin to believe in themselves.
Five Ways to Rebuild Your Child’s Routine Before School
You do not need to change everything in one day.
In fact, suddenly introducing strict school-night rules can create unnecessary resistance.
Start gradually.
1. Move Bedtime Back in Small Steps
If your child has been going to bed much later, do not expect them to suddenly fall asleep two hours earlier.
Move bedtime and wake-up time back by approximately 15 minutes every few days.
Start reducing late-night screens and introduce a calmer final part of the evening.
The goal is to make the first school morning feel familiar—not like a shock to the system.
2. Reintroduce One Daily Responsibility
Responsibility helps children feel capable and involved.
Choose one simple age-appropriate job, such as:
Preparing their clothes
Making their bed
Filling their water bottle
Tidying their training equipment
Helping clear the table
Packing something they need for the next day
Do not introduce ten jobs at once.
Choose one responsibility and expect it to be completed consistently.
Discipline is not about shouting louder.
It is about helping children understand that some things need to be done whether they feel like doing them or not.
3. Create a Regular Activity Time
Children need an outlet for their energy.
That might be walking, cycling, playing outside, attending a sports class or training in martial arts.
A scheduled activity gives the day a fixed point.
They know where they need to be, what time they need to get ready and what is expected when they arrive.
This begins rebuilding the mental habits required for school:
Being on time
Listening
Following instructions
Staying focused
Working alongside others
Completing a task
4. Put Boundaries Around Devices
The answer is not always to remove every device.
Devices are part of modern childhood, and many children use them to relax, socialise and enjoy themselves.
The problem begins when screens become the automatic answer to every moment of boredom.
Rather than arguing about devices throughout the day, create clear times when they can and cannot be used.
For example:
No devices during meals
No devices while getting ready
No devices immediately before bed
Physical activity before gaming time
Responsibilities completed before recreational screen time
Clear boundaries are easier for children to understand than rules that change depending on the parent’s mood.
5. Give Them a Challenge They Can Complete
Children need something that stretches them without overwhelming them.
A useful challenge should be difficult enough to require effort but achievable enough for the child to experience progress.
In martial arts, that might mean:
Learning a new stance
Remembering a combination
Holding pads safely
Completing a fitness drill
Training with a new partner
Speaking clearly in front of the group
Attending consistently for several weeks
The objective is not perfection.
The objective is progress.
A Simple Seven-Day Back-to-School Reset
Here is a practical plan parents can begin at home.
Day 1: Agree on a realistic bedtime and morning routine.
Day 2: Introduce one daily responsibility.
Day 3: Complete at least one enjoyable physical activity.
Day 4: Create clear device-free periods.
Day 5: Encourage your child to do something independently.
Day 6: Prepare clothes, bags and equipment for the following week.
Day 7: Talk positively about what your child is looking forward to at school.
Avoid spending every conversation warning them that the holidays are nearly over.
Statements such as “You won’t be able to do that when school starts” can make school sound like a punishment.
Instead, focus on preparation:
“Let’s start getting ourselves ready so that the first week feels easier.”
That language creates cooperation rather than confrontation.
How Martial Arts Can Help With the Back-to-School Transition
Martial arts gives children structure without making the rest of their holiday feel like another school day.
They come into class and immediately have:
A clear start and finish time
A uniform or training kit
An instructor
Rules and boundaries
Other children to interact with
Physical challenges
Skills to practise
Achievements to work towards
At ASBBA Martial Arts, our Junior Warriors follow a structured programme that includes karate fundamentals, kickboxing techniques, fitness, partner drills, controlled sparring and leadership activities. Book your free trial here
However, the punches and kicks are only part of what children learn.
They also learn to:
Stand confidently
Listen when somebody is speaking
Respond to instructions
Control their energy
Work with different partners
Keep trying after a mistake
Respect other people
Recognise their own progress
These are skills that can transfer into the classroom, the playground and everyday family life.
Martial Arts Classes Across Birmingham
ASBBA Martial Arts provides sport karate and kickboxing classes for children, teenagers and adults across:
Handsworth
Winson Green
Bartley Green
Our programmes include Lil Warriors for ages 3–6, Junior Warriors for ages 7–11 and Cadets and Adults for ages 12 and above.
Beginners are welcome.
Your child does not need to be fit, confident or experienced before starting.
That is what the training is there to develop.
Some children walk into their first class excited.
Some are nervous.
Some do not want to let go of their parent.
Some stand quietly at the back and watch.
We understand that confidence looks different for every child.
Our responsibility is to meet them at their starting point and help them take the next step.
Signs Your Child May Benefit From More Structure
Your child may benefit from a structured activity before returning to school if they are:
Spending most of the day on devices
Avoiding physical activity
Struggling to follow basic instructions
Becoming anxious about September
Going to bed and waking up increasingly late
Losing confidence in social situations
Becoming frustrated whenever something feels difficult
Saying they are bored but rejecting every suggestion
Worried about changing classes, teachers or schools
These signs do not mean something is wrong with your child.
They may simply need more opportunities to move, achieve, socialise and feel capable again.
Do Not Wait Until the Night Before School
Confidence and routine cannot be rebuilt by laying out a school uniform the night before term begins.
Start now.
Make small adjustments.
Create clear expectations.
Give your child something positive to work towards.
Most importantly, provide opportunities for small victories.
A confident child is not a child who never feels nervous.
A confident child is one who has learned:
“I may feel nervous, but I can still take the next step.”
That is the mindset we work to develop at ASBBA Martial Arts.
Our Summer Confidence Programme and regular karate and kickboxing classes are available across Handsworth, Winson Green and Bartley Green.
Contact ASBBA Martial Arts to check current availability or arrange your child’s introductory sessions.
ASBBA Martial Arts
Where winners make it happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I rebuild my child’s routine before school starts?
Begin gradually by adjusting bedtime, introducing one daily responsibility, scheduling physical activity and creating clear boundaries around devices. Avoid trying to change everything in one day.
How can I improve my child’s confidence before September?
Give them achievable challenges that require effort. Confidence develops when children collect evidence that they can face something difficult, keep trying and make progress.
Can martial arts help children prepare for school?
Martial arts can help children practise listening, following instructions, managing their energy, working with others and responding positively to challenges.
Does my child need experience before starting martial arts?
No. ASBBA welcomes beginners. Children are supported according to their age, confidence and current ability.
Where does ASBBA run children’s martial arts classes?
ASBBA runs sport karate and kickboxing classes in Handsworth, Winson Green and Bartley Green in Birmingham.
What age can children start martial arts at ASBBA?
ASBBA’s Lil Warriors programme is designed for children aged 3–6, while Junior Warriors is designed for ages 7–11. Classes are also available for teenagers and adults aged 12 and above. Your free trial awaits you here