7 Things to Say and Do After School 📚

How many times has school pick up ended in tears, tantrums and too much tiredness? School is a full-on day right from the moment registration starts to the moment they walk out the door to go home. Your child is tired and hungry and they've missed you. But their behaviour doesn't often show this, does it? Here are 7 tips to make life easier for them (and you) for that after school period.

Greet them with a smile.

Even if they’re throwing their bag at you or complaining because you didn’t bring the car. Your calm presence sets the tone.

Take snacks.

They’ll be starving. They won’t have eaten since lunchtime and their brains and bodies will have been working really hard. A simple snack =a smoother afternoon.

Remind them you understand.

Try saying something like ‘You’ve had a long day, I’m here to look after you.’ Connection comes before correction.

Tell them about your day.

Model talking to them about the ups and downs of your day. This gives them space to process before they share.

Ask open ended questions.

If they can respond with just ‘yes’ or ‘no’ then they probably will. Try:

‘What was your favourite thing that happened today?’

‘What was the hardest part?’

‘How did you feel today?’

Help them decompress.

Teach them healthy habits for switching ‘off’. Offer sensory play, go for a walk, listen to music, watch TV or simply do nothing.

Keep after school activities to a minimum.

They’ll be exhausted for the first few weeks of term. And the same happens again in the last few weeks of term. Clear the diary where you can.

Hi, I’m Emma, Early Childhood Expert and founder of Everyday. My goal is simple: help parents understand their children better so every stage feels a little brighter. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about the extraordinary - it’s about the everyday.