What's a Parent's Role?

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After holding it together all day at school, children may arrive home exhausted and frustrated.

Children may save their behavioral outbursts for home because that's where they feel safe.

It's important to understand their behavior, but do not excuse it.

Your child needs connection, not confrontation.

Let’s set the scene. You watch your child walk through the door after getting home from school. You smile and ask, “How was your day?” Imagine your surprise when your child responds, “FINE!” or “Just leave me alone!” You back off, but their younger sibling tries to give them a hug, which they resist. And suddenly... your sweet child is unrecognizable. There are tears. There's yelling. They tell you they hate you. They run to their bedroom and slam the door.

You are dumbfounded. You reach out to your child’s teacher only to find out that their behavior at school was perfect, as usual. And you're standing there thinking: What happened to my child? Sound familiar? This is called after-school restraint collapse. This term was developed by Andrea Loewen Nair, a psychotherapist and parenting educator. After-school restraint collapse explains a child who copes well emotionally during school, but when they get home, things get ugly. The child releases their stress and frustration in a dramatic manner. They may throw a temper........

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