5 Ways to Avoid the After School Meltdown This School Year

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Arguing over who got to the door first. Slamming backpacks to the ground. Voices filled with emotion raised over silly things. The after school meltdown was strong in our house. But we found the answer to curbing after school attitudes. I’m so excited to share it with you!

Thank you to Farm Rich for sponsoring this post and opening up the conversation. All opinions are my own.

Snack Platter Farm Rich - curb after school meltdown

For months, I felt confused. At school, they seemed fine. Their teachers would say how well-behaved they were in class, how they followed directions, and how kind they were. As soon as they walked in the front door though, their whole demeanor changed. Emotions were high and they were in full defense mode. It didn’t make sense to me.

Something had to change.

While I thought we had a good after school routine down, it wasn’t working for everyone. After some trial and error, we finally found an after school routine that worked to cure the after school attitude for everyone.

If you are struggling with meltdowns or bad attitudes after school, you are not alone.

Curb the After School Meltdown

The emotional meltdown is inevitable. The key is being prepared and trying to stop it before it starts.

1. Change things up.

After the backpacks are hung on their hooks, sometimes it’s time for an impromptu dance party. Even the child with the worst attitude will giggle and dance to the beat as the stress of the school day melts away. Sometimes we just need to laugh with our kids. The most important thing is to HAVE FUN!

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2. Don’t forget the snacks!

Not only will they need water to refuel, but snacks will help curb the after school meltdown.

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While our go-to snacks are apples, oranges, bananas, blueberries, celery, and carrots, sometimes I like to switch it up a bit. As you know, we love all things Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 4. That’s why I was so excited to see Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 4 Mozzarella Shapes from Farm Rich at Publix!

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As a mom, I feel good about my kids eating them because it has the “Mickey Check” of good nutrition. The “Mickey Check” means that they meet Disney Nutrition Guidelines that limit calories, saturated fat, sodium, and sugar. Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 4 Mozzarella Shapes from Farm Rich are made with 100 percent real mozzarella cheese and have a whole-grain coating. They are a good source of calcium (25 percent daily value) and have 14 grams of protein per serving! Plus, they come in super fun shapes my children love, like Woody’s Hat, Space Aliens, and Bunny.

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Snack time just got a lot more fun!

3. Spend intentional time together.

Put away your phone, and limit screentime. Pull out board games, read a chapter book together, have an impromptu movie night together. Spend quality time together and enjoy those snuggles. Play together. Cook together. Do something together.

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4. Have them drink a glass of water.

Hydration is often overlooked as a source of after school meltdowns. I will tell you that there is a big difference in my children when they are hydrated and when they are not. Mine take water bottles to school with them daily and then drink more when they get home from school. Small things can have a big impact.

5. Don’t ask questions, yet.

I still have to fight the urge to ask them how their day was as soon as I see their little faces. Sometimes it’s okay as we’re walking home from school, but as soon as we walk through the door, after being engaged all day at school, sometimes they need a little break. They might be more likely to open up about their day while helping with dinner or during the bedtime routine. Give them space and then ask questions like, “Name something that surprised you at school today” or “Tell me something that made you sad today.” Having them pick something specific also helps.

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There is hope for the afternoon meltdown. The after-school attitude won’t last long if we are proactive in helping our children work through their emotions by giving them what they need.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Farm Rich.

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