All day at school, he comes home and boom! He runs, jumps, screams, he doesn’t stop for a second. I try to calm him down, but it’s like he has a motor without brakes. I get stressed because I have to make dinner, check his homework, clean the house, and he just wants to play nonstop. Sometimes I wonder if this is normal or if I’m doing something wrong. Limit sugar? I just want peace after a tiring day
Omg same. It’s like they hold it all in at school and then unleash pure chaos at home. I’m exhausted
I hear you. That after, school energy is next, level, and I swear no one warns you about it. It’s like the second they step through the door, they just explode. Meanwhile, I’m running on fumes and just trying to get through the evening without losing my mind. I don’t even have the energy to fight it some days. Just know you’re not alone, this is hard, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed
1 Like
I have an older son (6), and I can assure you this is completely normal. They spend all day at school following the rules, sitting still, being told what to do, and when they get home, they need to let it all out! Think of it as shaking a can of soda all day and then popping the top off at 3 p.m.
What helped me was building a little transition time into our afternoons. Instead of fighting the energy, I’d take them straight to the park after school, let them run wild for 30, 40 min, then head home. Some days, even just 10, 15 minutes of jumping on a trampoline or riding a bike outside helped get the crazies out. Once they burned off the energy, evenings were way smoother.
It does get easier as they get older, I promise. But for now, try leaning into the energy instead of resisting it. You might get a more peaceful evening in return
Totally normal, but I get why you’re struggling, it’s so overwhelming when you’re trying to do all the things and they’re bouncing off the walls. Here’s what’s helped us:
Movement first : Like others said, a quick burst of outdoor play or a crazy dance party inside right when they get home can help. Even just running up and down the hall for 5 min makes a difference.
Sensory activities : If they’re still wired, try calming sensory play. Play, Doh, kinetic sand, water play, even giving them a warm bath can help settle them.
Snack check : Sometimes they’re just hangry. A solid protein, heavy snack cheese, nuts, yogurt, etc. helps regulate mood.
A job to do : Some kids calm down if they feel involved. Give him a mission like stirring something for dinner, sorting socks, or helping you clean. My son loved spraying the table and wiping it down, it gave him a sense of purpose and kept him busy.
This phase is hard, but you’re doing great. Hang in there!