Did your little one start school this year?
We spend so long prepping our little ones to start school that we tend to forget about what happens next.
For most of our little ones, starting school is a HUGE step. It is a big developmental leap and it can be tricky for some.
Gone are the days at home full of free play and instead they have days full of structure and often times, activities they would prefer not to do.
And well, now we are in Week 4 of Term 1 I am sure most of you have started to notice the fatigue.
The little one you drop off to school is replaced with a hot, sweaty, grumpy and hungry child with little ability to regulate their emotions and it’s home to tears, whinging and for some falling asleep before dinner.
So, what can you do to support your little one?
Let’s break down some of the behaviours you may be seeing in your little one, why they are happening and what you can do to help.
Meltdowns:
Often our little ones experience a bit of an emotional overload once they are back in their safe space, with their safe people. Sorry Mum! That is often you.
This typically occurs because they have worked so hard to bottle up emotions throughout the day. Trying to fit in and make new friends often has all of us holding onto emotions we perceive might not be appropriate. Seeing you can come with an overwhelming feeling of safety and these feelings can often come to the surface.
We can help our little ones by providing language around these feelings. We might say something like, “You looked very tired and frustrated this afternoon, is that how you felt?” By discussing later when they are calm, you are providing them with language and descriptive words they can then start to use in the moment to communicate what is happening for them.
The My Zones of Feelings Flash Cards are a great tool for helping to identify feelings.
Hyperactivity:
When our little ones are required to sit still and focus for such long periods, they can often come home with an abundance of frantic energy.
Our little ones have a developmental urge to be moving and playing which makes it tricky for them to have to sit still!
You can help your little one by providing some physical exertion after school. Maybe its walking home from school, a play in the park or just kicking the ball around the backyard. Allowing your little one an outlet for their energy will help to avoid some of those bigger feelings coming later.
The Your Wild Child Collection of books has some great tips and tricks for creative outdoor adventures.
Poor Self-Control
For many of you, you may have noticed an increase in pushing back, or testing the boundaries.
Self-control is still developing for most of our school-starters and its like a muscle that needs to be worked. By the end of the day, our little people have worked this muscle so hard that they often don’t have the ability to practice much more self-control.
You can help your little one through consistent and predictable routines and boundaries. You could also introduce an “Quiet Corner” or a “Cool Down Spot” where your little one can retreat when it all gets a little too much. This allows your little one a pace where they no longer have to practice self-control and can just recharge.
We stock an incredible range of mindfulness activities and guides for little ones. Check them out here.
This time is a tricky time for all. Often times, Kindergarten Exhaustion can lead to Parental Burnout, so it’s also important that you are taking time to fill your own cup by practicing self-care often. And although, this is hard work now, trust me, this too shall pass.