03/23/2026
One of our most common conversations usually starts like this…
“They do great at school…no complaints from their teachers. Then they get home and everything unravels.”
If this sounds familiar:
1) you’re not alone
2) there’s a reason this is happening
A full school day is a lot for many kids, especially those with sensory differences. Keeping it together, following expectations, managing noise, visual overwhelm, transitions, social demands 🤯 it all adds up, even if it doesn’t always show.
Then they get home to their safe place with their safe people…and it all comes out.
That after-school unraveling (often called the after school collapse) isn’t coming out of nowhere.
Instead of just focusing on the meltdown at home, we help families zoom out and look at the whole day, including what’s happening before, during, and after the school day. Our job as OTs is to figure out where we can build in more support so their nervous system isn’t running on empty by 3pm.
Swipe through for some practical strategies 🤍
