Returning home after a busy day at preschool or kindergarten is a big exhale for our little ones: fewer rules, their favorite food, and the people they love best all in one convenient location. At the same time, that process of separation and reconnection — from school to the familiarity of home — can be stressful for some children. You might see your child get really revved up, or be fussier than usual, or even fall apart when they come home from school. This is their way of saying that this transition takes work and they’re having trouble coping.
Surprisingly, routines are a great tool to support children after school. For many of us, this is the opposite of what we might think: surely kids had enough of routines and structure by the end of the day? But routines can help young children feel safe and secure.