He’s 3 years old and, although I know he’s tired, as soon as we get home he seems to magically recharge his energy. Running around, taking out toys, asking for snacks… anything but resting. I try to slow down the pace: dim lights, soft stories, even a little relaxing music. But nothing works. It worries me because I know he needs to sleep, I notice it in his mood at the end of the day: more tantrums, less patience. Could it be that I’m failing to find something that calms him down? Or is it normal that some children simply don’t want to sleep in the afternoons? The worry weighs on me because I want the best for him, but sometimes I feel like I’m losing the fight against the clock and his inexhaustible energy
yes! Does your son ever seem sleepy during the car ride home but then bounce off the walls as soon as you’re in the house? I can’t figure out if it’s overstimulation from daycare or just his age. What’s your nighttime routine like? I’m wondering if that could help
Oh wow, I’m right there with you. My 3.5 year old does the SAME thing. It’s like they hit a second wind as soon as they get home. I’ve tried everything too, calming tea, essential oils, no luck. I’ve kind of just started calling it his “daycare adrenaline dump.” You’re not alone in this at all!
We went through this exact thing with my kids. I started giving them a small, protein, packed snack right after daycare and then taking them outside for 10, 15 minutes of quiet play (like bubbles or chalk). The fresh air seemed to reset their systems, and they’d be more willing to wind down after that. Could be worth a shot!
Hey, I totally get how frustrating this can be. One thing that worked for my daughter around that age was a “transition activity.” Instead of jumping straight into winding down, we’d do something mellow but engaging, like a puzzle or coloring, right when we got home. Then I’d introduce the relaxing music and storytime. It seemed to help her shift gears a bit more smoothly. Maybe worth a try?
I think 3 year olds are secretly solar-powered. Mine gets home, runs a lap around the house, and acts like it’s party time. I’ve stopped trying to fight it. Now we do “Dance Party Wind-Down” to burn that last bit of energy. Not perfect, but we’ve had fewer meltdowns
Ugh, it’s so hard. It’s like they’re overtired but won’t give in, right? My son skips naps some days, and it’s meltdown central by bedtime. I don’t even have advice, just sending solidarity because I know how exhausting this can be
Thank you all so much for the suggestions and support. It’s such a relief to know I’m not alone in this. I think I’ll try adding a calming activity before starting our wind-down routine. The fresh air idea sounds great too, maybe a short walk around the block could help
Hang in there! My son went through a similar phase, and I remember feeling like I was failing too. But guess what? It’s just a phase. He’s 5 now and naps are a distant memory, but his energy has leveled out. You’re doing great, and this will pass before you know it