Children who do significantly worse in school during January-March?

[nighbynight]

Is anyone aware of this, and possible causes?

I first came across it when reading stuff about ADHD children in the 1980s, and it was mentioned that some have a seasonal dip in school results, and the causes weren't clear - SAD was speculated.

This year, for the first time, I have noticed a huge dip in ds2's school work. Before Christmas he was doing well, results improving.
Now, dyslexia is being mentioned again. He is writing total crap in tests, words spelled wrongly. He says he wants to give up karate, because boys are bullying him in the class, and give up his reading training, because the journey is to long.

He has had colds and bugs for most of Jan and Feb, like the rest of us, but this is more than that. He is getting basic spellings wrong, that he was managing fine before christmas.

I wondered if what we are seeing is the seasonal dip? Does anyone have experience of this, or know more about it?

thats quite strange because at dd's parents night last night her teacher said she was really unsettled when they went back after christmas and her writing was messy and she wasnt doing her work as quickly. She has settled back down now thankfully.

could be a link with melatonin being fucked up by the seasons.

Is he sleeping? if not, could you try asking for melatonin? I really do think it works miracles.

no, he is sleeping well. I just had a look at melatonin, but I cant see any parallels.

It's bveen a long cold year, I'm miserable because of it. Summer was just a mild spring day, then we seemed to go straight to Autumn, then a VERY long, VERY cold winter.

it's been crap, amd I'm feeling crap because of it.

It is not a terribly long winter by the local standards here!
We have had a lot of bugs, though, but as I said, it does seem to be more than that. Plus I remember my brother having crap results in school every year at this time.

I looked up the symptoms of SAD for children, but it is inconclusive, really. Could be, could not be.