Hi there,

Winter break sounds short until you are halfway through it and wondering why everyone feels slightly off.

The days are slower. Bedtimes creep later. Mornings stretch. On the surface, nothing looks wrong. But by evening, kids are cranky, parents are tired, and the house feels heavier than it should.

This is not about laziness or too much screen time. It is about what happens when kids lose momentum.

Today, we are talking about why some kids (and parents!) struggle during long breaks and how to keep momentum without over-structuring their holidays. 

Why kids get cranky by the evening

By evening, a lot of kids become irritable. Everything feels harder. Small requests turn into big reactions.

And no this is not about boredom, it is about a lack of completion. 

Kids need some version of “I did something today” to feel regulated. School provides that automatically. Holidays do not.     

When an entire day passes without finishing anything, kids feel unsettled. They cannot articulate it, so it shows up as frustration, irritation, or emotional outbursts. Adults experience this too, but we recognize it as a bad day. Kids just feel off.    

This is why screen-heavy days often end badly, even when kids seem relaxed all afternoon.

The fix is not structure...

This is where many parents go wrong. They think the solution is tighter schedules.

It is not.  

What kids need is completion. I think about the day in three simple categories. 

> One physical activity.
> One responsibility.     
> One thing they complete from start to finish.  

That is it.

The physical activity regulates their body.
The responsibility anchors them in contribution.
The completed task gives their brain a stopping point. 

It can be something very small too, like a short walk, helping cook dinner, cleaning one area, finishing a puzzle, baking something, etc.   

When kids have one clear “done,” their mood by evening is noticeably different.

This is also the time when kids feel bored and directionless, so here are 10 fun, low-effort activities that will keep your kids entertained, create actual memories, and - most importantly - won't drive you completely insane.

Keeping Holidays Fun Without Losing All Rhythm

I do not think holidays should be overly managed. Kids should enjoy the movies, the downtime, and the slower pace. 

But some habits need to stay in place. Basic daily routines like brushing teeth, showering, and sleeping at a reasonable time keep a sense of normalcy, even when everything else is relaxed.

Toward the end of the break, I start easing bedtime back to normal. Not suddenly. Gradually. Especially for younger kids, waking up early again is hard, particularly in the winter.

I also do quiet reset tasks. Cleaning backpacks. Clearing out old papers. Setting up for school without making a big announcement.

What I try not to do is talk about school constantly. Over-talking about it makes kids anxious and resistant. They do better when the transition feels expected, not emphasized. 

Sleep and Melatonin

As soon as vacation mode starts, bedtime moves later. Wake-up time follows. That is part of the fun of the holidays, and I do not think it needs to be eliminated. But when it drifts every day without any boundary, everything else follows.

Sleep anchors the day. When it shifts too far, the entire day loses shape.

This is usually when parents start noticing mood changes.

Parents often ask about melatonin. There are kid-specific versions, and many families use them.

I have used it with my kids short term, especially after travel or major schedule disruptions. It helps them fall asleep and get back on schedule within a couple of days. 

The important part is that it stays short term. Daily reliance is where it becomes a problem. 

For families who prefer not to use it, a consistent wind-down sequence or predictable cues that tell the body it is time to sleep helps.

Is Melatonin Safe for Kids? Answered.  

That's all for today's issue, parents! 💗

Inside the Laid-back Parent’s Internet History this week: 

🔖 READ: 10 Holiday Activities To Keep Your Child On Track 

🔖 READ: Why a little boredom is actually good for your child’s brain

🔖 READ: When the Holidays Feel More Messy Than Merry.  

🔖 READ:Why kids seem to “act out” more during long school breaks

Note for My Fellow Laid-Back Parents

What most parents are reacting to during long breaks is not misbehavior. It is dysregulation.

The fix is not more control and it is not filling every hour. It is protecting a few anchors in the day so kids still feel steady while everything else stays relaxed.

When kids feel grounded, the holidays feel lighter. And getting back to school stops feeling like such a shock.

That is the balance most of us are actually trying to find, even if we do not always have the words for it.

See you next week,
Lakshmi 💛