Why Kids Act Differently at School Than at Home
Why is your child an angel at school but melts down at home—or vice versa? Here are the developmental, emotional, and environmental reasons kids behave differently in different settings, and how parents can respond with insight and calm.
Why do kids often act so differently at school than they do at home?
In this episode, you'll learn how skills like adaptability and “theory of mind” develop over time, why younger kids struggle more with behavior shifts, and how structure, transitions, and social pressure shape school-day behavior. We explore concepts like afterschool restraint collapse, social battery depletion, and masking—and why post-school meltdowns are usually a good sign, in that your home is a place your kid feels safe.
You'll learn some practical strategies for making things easier, including creating afterschool rituals, using visual schedules, feeding kids early and often, collaborating with teachers, and getting curious instead of reactive when behavior changes.
Here are links to some of the resources mentioned in the episode:
- Our Fresh Take with Ryan Wexelblatt
- Beth Arky for Child Mind Institute: "Why Are Kids Different at Home and at School?"
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What Fresh Hell is co-hosted by Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables.
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What Fresh Hell podcast, mom friends, funny moms, parenting advice, parenting experts, parenting tips, mothers, families, parenting skills, parenting strategies, parenting styles, busy moms, self-help for moms, manage kid’s behavior, teenager, tween, child development, family activities, family fun, parent child relationship, decluttering, kid-friendly, invisible workload, default parent, kids behave differently at school and home, afterschool restraint collapse, child behavior school vs home, parenting behavior issues, why kids melt down after school, child development theory of mind, school transitions and kids, emotional regulation in children, social battery kids, parenting strategies after school, collaboration with teachers, child behavior communication
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