The After-School Meltdown: Understanding the Restraint Collapse

Your child's teacher says they had a great day. Then the car door closes, or you walk through the front door, and it all comes undone — meltdowns, defiance, tears over nothing, or total shutdown. This isn't your child being difficult, and it isn't something happening only at home. It's what clinicians call "restraint collapse" — the release of a nervous system that's been working overtime to hold it together in a demanding environment, finally letting go with the person they feel safest with.

In this session, Lily Baiser, MS, OTR/L and Jill Gitten Aloia, PhD, ABPP-CN team up to break down what's actually happening in your child's body and brain during the after-school transition, why the person they fall apart with is usually you, and how to build a transition routine that helps your child's nervous system come down instead of crash.

What we'll cover:

Following the presentation, Lily and Jill will stay on together for a live parent Q&A — bring your specific after-school scenarios and the routines you're trying to figure out.

This session is part of Kinspire's live workshop programming, designed to give parents real knowledge — not just tips — so you can understand what's happening in your child's body and respond with confidence.