Meltdowns after School?

Princess_Lily

DS will meltdown as soon as we get home from school.  Rules, that we usually don't have an issue with, go out the window.

Does anyone else experience this?  I have tried to bring him to the park after school due to an excess of energy he seems to have.  He does great there - but as soon as we get home, its meltdown central.

Are there any tips/tricks that you guys have to help alleviate this issue?

ArcticFox

My DD comes home grouchy a lot too.  In fact, even though we live around the corner, it is not rare for her to be crying in the car before we get home if she's tired.

What time does he get out of preshool?  DD gets out at 11:30, we take her home and have a quiet lunch, and then she seems ready to go.

livinitup

I think you'll both feel better if you treat it as normal developmental phase and create a safe warm place for him to cry it out a little. Talk about it when you are both calm and in good spirits about a strategy - what's a safe place, does he get a blanket or buddy toy, etc. You don't have to prevent this or panic that it keeps happening. You can make your home a safe, soft place to 'fall apart' after the high funtioning energy of the day. Let it happen, guide him through it and give him some room to self sooth. 

luvmagoldn

This happened to us too.  I starting giving them a snack in the car on the way home.  We only live ten minutes away but that small thing seemed to help a lot.

I also agree that it's decompression after the activity of the day.  He will adjust.  Hang in there!

yankeebear

I read something about this recently that made a lot of sense.  When kids are in school all day they are dealing with a lot of rules and restrictions.  And for young children especially, they are still learning how to deal with their emotions.  So when they get home with you they feel safe and all their emotions come spilling out.  That may mean acting silly or grumpy or needy, etc. 

I would say it is normal and you should just deal with it the best you can and try to be gentle with him.

WestCoastMommy

DS sometimes does this. I think it happens when he is just overly tired. He still takes naps so I know I need to rush lunch and get him down. Sometimes it happens right when he gets in the car. I will ask about school and his Fav part and he will saying "nothing, I liked nothing", "We did nothing fun." Or he will have a breakdown over what I'm serving him for lunch. I'm like I thought this doesn't start until late Elementary day's. They are few and far between but they still happen.

jlw2505

This is very normal - he is tired, he has been on his best bahvioral all day for his teachers but now he is back at home with mom and can let it all out.  Everyone needs time to tranisition from place to place.  I have found that just giving my kids about 15 mins of play time when we get home goes far.  The nights that we get home late and are rushing in and having dinner right away are the worst.  Typically we get home and have time to just be at home and readjust to house and each other helps a lot.  The kids will often play in their rooms or together in the living room while DH and I deal with dinner and talk and it helps.  We all have dinner together about 30-45 mins after we get home.  Also, no electronics for my kids other than some quiet music in the background when we get home.  Going to the park may or may not be helping or making it worse.  Hard to say.  Try a snack, try going right home for a bit and then back out if you can. 

macchiatto

We have the same problem. They just started 7-8 weeks ago and had a week off recently for winter break (which worked out b/c Will had double pneumonia that week). I think they're just worn out. They'll probably be adjusted by the time summer vacation starts.

KathrynMD

snack in the car help and then go home and have lots of quiet cuddle time.  We watch a show and have a snack and that seems to help.  Then DD is ready to help, pay attention, etc.