Why 5 to 8 p.m. Is The Worst: How To Handle the After-School Crankies
b'Ask any parent: 5 to 8 p.m. is the hardest time of day. When kids are little, the toddler\\u2019s melting down because she skipped his nap at the same time her baby brother begins observation of his daily \\u201cwitching hour.\\u201d\\n\\xa0When kids are big, you need to get them three places at the same time while also being home to make dinner\\u2014 and then make sure everyone gets to bed on time (kidding, that is seriously never going to happen).\\n\\xa0If it makes you feel any better, there\\u2019s a reason kids save up their worst behavior for their home environment. Parenting expert and educator Andrea Loewen Nair calls what happens between pickup and bedtime \\u201cafter school restraint collapse.\\u201d As Ms. Nair explains:\\n\\nIt takes a great deal of energy, mental motivation, emotional containment, and physical restraint to keep ourselves at our best for other people while at work, daycare, or school.\\n\\nThere\\u2019s the rub: Mom and Dad are also exhausted from a full day of behaving like a normal human being for the rest of the world. No wonder this time of day is so bad. But fear not\\u2014 this episode is full of ideas and strategies for making this time of day a little easier, like:\\n\\nalways having a steak to throw to the angry bear\\nwhat to say to cranky after-schoolers besides \\u201chow was your day?\\u201d\\nproviding age-appropriate decompression strategies\\nmoving the acceptable time for pajamas to be worn earlier and earlier as the days get shorter\\n\\nHere\\u2019s links to the research and other great ideas discussed in this episode:\\nLINKS\\nColleen Seto for Today\\u2019s Parent: After-School Restraint Collapse is a Real Thing. Here\\u2019s How To Deal With It \\nAndrea Loewen Nair: 7 WAYS TO HELP YOUR CHILD HANDLE THEIR \\u201cAFTER SCHOOL RESTRAINT COLLAPSE\\u201d\\nAlice Bradley for Lifehacker: Stop Asking Your Kid About Their Day\\nHeather Marcoux for Motherly: After-school restraint collapse is real\\u2014here\\u2019s how to help your child\\nJustine Lorelle LaMonaco for Motherly: If your kids act worse around you, there might be a (very good) reason why\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices'