Before Going to School, Children Need Adaptation Time After Eid Holidays

Illustration of children learning at home. (Freepik)

JAKARTA - The readiness of children to learn before returning to school is an important thing to consider, especially after passing the long holiday.

Children generally need time to adjust again, both mentally and emotionally, so that they can follow the learning activities optimally.

The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) considers that the transition period from the holiday atmosphere to the learning routine cannot be ignored. Deputy Chairman of the KPAI, Jasra Putra, emphasized the importance of children's psychological readiness before returning to school.

"We remind of the importance of the psychological learning transition period, that children need a transition phase from the holiday atmosphere to the cognitive readiness to learn. This awareness must be a motivation for teachers, before children are really ready to enter the school routine," he said.

He explained that the homecoming moment experienced by many children during the Lebaran holiday is not just an ordinary journey, but also a means of strengthening social relations and cultural identity.

"Children have just absorbed traditional values, kinship, and local wisdom directly from the source. The wealth of this empirical experience is very good to be explored into the initial potential of learning, ideally accommodated by teachers as part of the interaction in the classroom, so that children feel their social experiences are valued and relevant to their school environment," said Jasra Putra.

The KPAI also appealed that schools should not immediately give heavy lesson loads on the first days of school.

"The prerequisite for a conducive condition must be built through emotional connectivity. Such as the reflective learning method and the method of telling stories about the homecoming experience in the hometown can be an effective transition instrument, so that children can re-enter the world of learning without pressure," he explained.

Based on the 2026 Eid holiday schedule, learning activities for the PAUD to SMA/equivalent levels are suspended for two weeks, starting from March 16 to March 27, 2026. Students are scheduled to return to school on Monday, March 30, 2026.