25/10/2025
Some children find the school day extra hard — not because they’re being difficult, but because their executive function skills are still developing.
These skills help us organise, plan, remember instructions, manage emotions, switch tasks and cope with change. When they’re under strain, the day can feel like a marathon… and by home time, there may be after-school restraint collapse.
Children who may find executive function more challenging include those with:
ADHD
Autism
Dyspraxia / DCD
Learning Differences (e.g., dyslexia)
Anxiety or mood-based needs
Children who have experienced trauma, chronic stress, or early adversity
Children born prematurely
If your child melts the second they walk through the door, struggles to “hold it together”, or seems exhausted by the school day — this is not a behaviour problem. It’s a nervous system and executive load problem.
I’ve put together a After-School Restraint Collapse Pack, including:
A compassionate guide
Co-regulation support ideas
And an Executive Function Checklist to help you understand the “why” behind the behaviour.
Link in comments below⬇️ or in bio to download.
