Meltdown at school pickup

[ggmom87]

My 4 year old just started full days of Reception this term. She loves school, and most days she comes home tired but happy. Sometimes a little grumpy, to be expected. She’s usually a very sweet little gal. But today at pickup, she was in a horrid mood. They had just returned from a forest school trip and she was very tried. She then saw that her little brother had a happy meal toy from earlier, and she asked if she could have McDonald’s too. I said no, but I had a snack for her in the car. But she was so upset and had a huge meltdown right there in front of all the parents and kids. She screamed at me and hit me and threw herself to the ground. I am so mortified I don’t know how I’ll recover. I seriously feel so embarrassed about even showing my face there again. Has anyone ever experienced anything like this when their child first started school full time?

My DD is a summer baby too - she was fine for the first half term but from November was very tearful/grumpy after school through til Easter, I used to have to greet her pretty much with a biscuit in hand which did the trick! She was fine by the summer term - that bit older, more used to the routine and the weather is much better.

My year 1 is still very fragile after school. He's almost 6! He's a sensitive kid and spends all day being "perfect" that he just lets it all go when he sees me. It's definitely better now, less frequent, but I don't care what people think anymore. Don't worry about it, even kids are allowed bad days!

My dd is 8. I never have, and never will, turn up at school pick up time without food! Don't underestimate the need for a snack at the end of a busy day. Honestly she is a ticking time bomb until she has eaten, and then she is an angel :-)

Yes it's so normal. It gets better. 4 months in and she's less moody. I always take mine a kit kat and an apple. Or a pineapple stick and a biscuit. We walk a mile home so I don't mind her having a couple of snacky bits. She burns it off and also has quite healthy meals at school.

Also remember she's only 4 and it's going to bother her a little thinking you are doing nice things together whilst she's at school. I have a toddler so I also do bits with him like get him buttons from the shop. I try and hide it all.

Don't be embarrassed. Kids have thrown bags at parents. Cried on the way out. Demanded food with a grumpy face. We've all been there. My child can be terrible on Thursdays and Fridays if she's tired. Don't worry. Just be firm and stuff anyone else lol

My DD did exactly this a few days ago. She is also 4 and a summer born. Like your DD she is generally sweet natured but when she gets tired, hungry and overwhelmed she turns into a monster. Hers was because she wanted a Millies cookie.

She screamed and screamed and actually yelled 'I am going to scream until midnight unless you get me a cookie.' All her school friends and their parents were around. One of the mums kindly offered her a snack which she rudely refused. She kept it up a good half an hour.

I get how embarrassing it is OP but I doubt anyone will remember. I apologised to the mum who offered the snack and she just laughed and said her kids do it all the time.

Also maybe offer two choices of snack, gives her a bit of power to choose what she'd like and perhaps distract from any potential tantrum.

What worked for us was arranging with DD1’s teacher for her to have a snack in the afternoon before school finished. It made her much nicer at pick up time as she wasn’t so hangry.

School trips tire them out and Forest School although lovely is exciting and tiring. Bet there were a few more that had tantrums later on. I've seen it lots of times don't fret there wont be a parent on that yard that's kid hasn't had a tantrum at some stage. Go in head held high tomorrow.