Back To School Big Feelings

By now your kids are back at school and day care. Most kids are getting back into the routine of getting ready for school in the morning and whatever their after-school/day-care routine might look like. For a lot of kids it been a big change, going from lots of free time and playing during the holidays, to listening to teachers/educators, following rules, and getting along with their classmates.

For some kids this takes a LOT of energy, so they are really tired or a bundle of energy when they get home. So when you ask them about their day, or to put their school bag away, or get ready for a bath this can trigger BIG feelings.

It might be confusing when your child happily gets ready for a bath one day and the next it’s like you’ve asked them to climb Mount Everest on their own – it’s a no go zone. And while you’re dealing with their big feelings, they’re still not in the bath/ready for bed/sitting down for breakfast.

Here is my tips for helping kids manage their BIG feelings before and after school:

-       A lot of kids get HANGRY so have healthy snacks ready for the car trip or as soon as they get home

-       If you can walk to or from school/day-care (or park an extra block away) this can really help them transition from home to school and back to home

-       Schedule some down-time where your child can play with minimal rules and no instructions from you

-       Remember to put into your schedule time for you to give your undivided attention to your child. If you want them to listen to you, you need to listen to them too. As little as 10 minutes 1:1 with your child can help you build a stronger connection and help to release big feelings.