When Everything is TOO MUCH
Helping You Navigate the World of Child Development and Psychology
Nest Psychological Services, PLLC
The Halloween Edition: When Everything Is TOO MUCH
Costumes. Candy. Crowds. Late nights. Schedule changes. School parties. Noise. Sugar. Excitement.
What could possibly go wrong?
😂
Halloween can be a LOT for a developing nervous system.
And honestly?
Sometimes the child who melts down at 7:00 p.m. isn't having a “bad attitude.”
They may simply have reached their capacity.
Think about your own brain after a long day.
You've answered 47 questions.
Made decisions.
Solved problems.
Worked.
Driven.
Texted.
Listened.
Remembered things.
Forgotten things.
Remembered the thing you forgot.
And then someone asks:
“What's for dinner?”
You may suddenly feel a deep spiritual connection to the phrase:
“I don't know. Figure it out.”
Kids have capacity limits too.
And when their systems are overloaded, behavior can become the alarm bell.
So as October wraps up, watch for signs of overload:
More irritability
Increased crying
Difficulty following directions
Increased arguing
More impulsive behavior
Difficulty transitioning
Sensitivity to noise or touch
Trouble falling asleep
Increased sibling conflict
These aren't automatically signs of a behavioral disorder.
Sometimes they're signs that a child needs less input and more recovery.
Try creating a “reset routine.”
After a busy day:
Snack → quiet time → movement → connection → predictable evening routine.
No complicated intervention.
No elaborate behavior chart.
Just a little opportunity for the nervous system to come back down.
And here's the bigger lesson I hope you take from this month's series:
Behavior makes more sense when we look underneath it.
Instead of asking only:
“How do I stop this behavior?”
we can also ask:
“What skill is missing?”
“What demand is too high?”
“What is happening in the environment?”
“What is this child communicating?”
“What support would make success more likely?”
That's where behavior support gets really interesting.
Because we're not simply trying to make kids behave.
We're helping them develop the skills to eventually manage themselves.
And as a mom of seven, a school psychologist, and a human who has absolutely experienced the bedtime meltdown…
I can tell you:
We don't need perfect kids.
We need kids who are gradually building the skills to navigate an imperfect world.
And we need adults who understand what's happening underneath the behavior well enough to help them get there.
I'll see you next month for more of the Behavior Behind the Behavior.
Until then, may your transitions be short, your snacks be plentiful, and may nobody lose their shoes five minutes before you have to leave the house.
Comments