How to deal with after school meltdowns.

[Nbg]

I wasnt sure whether to put this in the behaviour section but dd is at preschool and I'm wondering if anyone else is having the same problem.

Basically dd, who will be 4 in October, started Preschool Sept last year. Up until the summer hols, she was doing Monday to Thursday mornings 9:15 to 11:45.
When I picked her up she would be quite a madam and tired. I put this down to her just doing lots of activities and being worn out from it.

Now after the school holidays, she is going Monday to Thursday afternoons 12:15 to 2:45 and Friday mornings. She has to do those sessions because of the age she is. She doesnt have to do as many but dh and I thought it would benefit her more in preparation for Infants.

Anyway, to the real problem. I did wonder after her being so tired when she did morning sessions, whether it would be worse in the afternoons and sure enough, it is!
She is past herself with tiredness, very very irritable and cross. Not to mention hungry.
Yesterday after her first day back I ended up cooking her tea as soon as we got in at 3:30, she was eating by 4 and come bathtime at 6, she was hungry!

I dont really know what I can do about this really.
She is waking early on a morning, anything between 6 and 7am and she's in bed for no later than 7 every night without fail.

Is anyone else having this problem?
What can I do about it, if anything!?

[sandyballs]

Try and meet her from school with a snack and a drink - banana/cereal bar, anything like that.

I have this problem with one of my DD's. I had forgotten about it over the school hols, but when I picked her up yesterday she was absolutely vile until she had eaten and drunk something.

[eleanorsmum]

my dd has just switched to afternoons too 5 days a week. she's enjoying it but extra-ordinarily tired! i've tried to keep her mornings quite calm so she's not as tired when she goes and it seems to be working ok so far.................

[Nbg]

Yes I took a drink today thinking I had done something good and she screamed for more when she'd finished.

Its awful to see and hear it because she isnt normally like this.

[Bouquetsofdynomite]

I thought all 3-5yr olds were like this about 3-4pm, regardless of whether they've been out that day .
Def bring a snack for the walk home, then let her veg in front of the telly with cookies and milk or something. That's my plan for when DD starts infants next week.

[PrettyCandles]

Food. Peanut butter sandwiches on wholemeal bread and a drink of water. No sugar!

Does she have a cuddly? It might help keep her calmer if she has it to hold on the way home.

Also no interrogation on what she did that day. Save that for an hour or so later when she's ready.