Permission to Slow Down
For many families, the start of August signals the beginning of a new school year. Summer is over, and our busy lives are back in full swing, juggling hectic mornings, school pick-ups, and the witching hour until bedtime. As adults, our default mode after pickup is often logistics, asking children practical questions like How was your day? Did you eat your lunch? Or who did you play with?
But for children, the after-school transition looks a little different. Whether it's an emotional release or a physical crash, after a morning of sharing, listening, lots of stimulation, and just a general sense of keeping it together, most children need a moment to reset. It’s time we grant them (and ourselves) the permission to slow down.
School to Home Transition: Slowing down the afternoon doesn’t need to require extra hours, but instead shifts our focus to make the most of the time we do have.
Quiet Commute: Instead of rapid-fire interview questions on the car ride home, offer a simple greeting (“I missed you so much, I’m so glad you’re back with me”) and play a soothing or familiar and favorite song.
Sensory Release: Young children hold the tension of the day in their bodies. Encourage them to take off their shoes and socks and wash their hands at the sink (let them play with the bubbles!) when coming into the house to support regulation. On warmer days, have bath time in the afternoon for a relaxing recharge. Playdough is also a great after-school activity; ditch the tools and let children squeeze, pinch, and roll with just their hands to reboot their nervous system.
Decompression Snack: Take five minutes to sit together and share a snack. Don’t fill the silence with questions; just enjoy the time together with an easy smile and snuggles.
Storybook Sanctuary: Books often get limited to a bedtime routine, but reading aloud can be a secret superpower for the afternoon transition. Reading together creates a predictable pause to the routine, offering children our undivided attention, even if only for ten minutes. It’s the consistency, not the duration, that matters most.
Here are some beloved children’s books from our teachers at PPPK:
They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel (Melanie Akins, Atelierista)
Danny & the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff (Danielle Carpenter, Coyote Class)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (Cassidy Ball, Coyote Class)
What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada (Kendall Wollenberg, Javelina & Quail Class)
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault (Lexi Fielder, Javelina & Quail Class)
Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester (Gina Gulden, Tortoise & Gecko Class)
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown (Meara Amen, Tortoise & Gecko Class)
Cactus Hotel by Brenda C. Guiberson (Laura Dugger, Tortoise Class)
Steam Train, Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker (Stacy Searle, Gecko Class)
Be You by Peter Reynolds (Giselle Carpenter, Owl & Cottontail Class)
Corduroy by Don Freeman (Heidi Neuman, Owl & Cottontail Class)
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon (Megan Kalos, Owl Class)
Chalk by Bill Thomson (Juliet Mendon, Roadrunner Class)
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson (Keri Woosley, Roadrunner Class)
The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown (Erin Fjell, Roadrunner Class)
Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor (Kimberly Bianco, Outdoor Education Specialist)
Purple, Green and Yellow by Robert Munsch (Kristine Lundquist, Music Teacher)
The Big Red Ripe Strawberry and the Very Hungry Bear by Don Wood (Sabrina Ball, Director)
Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman (Diana Englund, Office Administrator)
The Paper Princess by Elisa Kleven (Kelsey Vasquez, Director of Educational Practices)
As we start a new school year, give yourself permission to slow down and enjoy the small moments. Value presence over productivity, connection over efficiency. These are the moments that become memories.