Ep21. Parenting Path in Action: Navigating the Afternoon Transition
- Nina Visic
- Sep 10
- 10 min read
This episode breaks down one of the most challenging parts of a parent’s day: the afternoon transition. From school pickup to bedtime prep, Nina shares what really helps kids decompress, how to manage clashing energy, when to talk (and when not to), and how to introduce structure without creating pressure.
Whether you’re juggling multiple kids, paperwork piles, or just trying to hold it together between 3 and 6pm, this episode offers real-life tips to help your afternoons feel smoother and more connected.
You’ll Learn
Why the afternoon transition is often so difficult for kids (and parents)
What to do before pickup to regulate yourself
When and how to connect after school
Practical routines for balancing TV, homework, and chores
The power of the “Yellow Spoon” strategy to reduce sibling conflict
How to sort through the artwork and paperwork pile without guilt
A simple structure to reset your afternoons using the 3Rs
Why This Episode Matters
The hours after school can make or break the whole day. When we enter them stressed or reactive, kids pick up on it - and tensions rise.
But with mindful pauses, compassionate communication, and some flexible routines, the afternoon transition can become a chance to reconnect instead of clash.
This episode offers a realistic, heart-centred look at what families really need between pickup and dinner - and how small shifts can create big calm.
Take Home Action
Try the 3Rs:
Refill - Snack, rest, or connection
Responsibility - A small task or chore
Recharge - Time to play, move, or relax
Build your own after-school rhythm using these three steps. It doesn’t have to be perfect -just predictable and calming.
Take the Next Step
Struggling with your own afternoon transition?
Book an SOS Parenting Support Call for just $50. In this 1:1 session, we’ll uncover what’s really going on in your after-school chaos and give you practical, realistic steps to make evenings easier - for everyone. Use the code SOSPATH to get this discounted offer.
Links and Resources
Related episodes:
Bluey episode reference: “Mum School” (on recycling kids’ art)
Let’s Connect
Want more support? Follow Nina on Instagram, or sign up for tips and updates at mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au.
Have a question or parenting challenge you'd like addressed on the podcast? Send a DM or an email.
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Website: mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au
About the Host
Nina Visic is a certified mindful parenting coach, workshop facilitator, and mum of three energetic boys. She helps parents move from overwhelm and reactivity to calm, connected, values-aligned parenting through simple, practical tools that actually work.
Nina has lived the chaos of the afternoon transition - and knows that parenting doesn’t have to mean surviving until bedtime. Her work combines the science of emotional regulation with the heart of intentional family connection, guiding parents toward routines and rhythms that support everyone in the home.
As the founder of Mindful Parenting Lifestyle, Nina offers 1:1 coaching, masterclasses, and workshops across Australia. Whether you’re navigating school drop-offs or decompressing from daycare pickup, she’s here to walk alongside you on your parenting path.
Transcript
This transcript has been copied and pasted but not proofread or edited, so it may contain errors or inaccuracies.
Intro
You're listening to Your Calm Parenting Path. I’m your host, Nina, a mindful parenting coach and mum, here to help you go from overwhelmed and reactive to calm, confident, and connected with your kids.
This show is for parents who want to raise their children with more patience, less stress, and a whole lot more joy. Because small shifts make a big impact—and you can build the parenting life you’ve always wanted.
If you want to see what I’m up to, follow me on Instagram at [your handle]. And don’t forget to hit follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode.
Now, let’s get started!
Script
Episode 21 – Parenting Path in Action: The Afternoon Transition
IntroWelcome back to Your Calm Parenting Path. I’m Nina, a mindful parenting coach and mum, and in this Parenting Path in Action episode, we’re tackling one of the most common struggles families face—the afternoon transition. That stretch from school pickup to dinner time can be packed with tired kids, clashing needs, and rising tension… but it doesn’t have to be.
This episode will walk you through what actually helps in that tricky after-school window—without adding pressure or perfectionism.
We’ll move through the afternoon together, starting with your own transition, then looking at what kids need after school, how to navigate competing demands, and ways to bring more calm and connection to the rhythm of your day.
Let’s dive in.
Part 1: Your Own TransitionLet’s start here—with you. Because the truth is, how you enter the afternoon has a huge influence on how your kids respond.
If you come straight from a long day at work, a rushed set of errands, or hours of toddler wrangling, you’re probably carrying a full mental load. The emails. The dinner to prep. The sibling dynamics you’re bracing for. Maybe even guilt that you’re already snappy before they’ve said hello.
So here’s what I invite you to do: before pickup, pause.
Just for 60 seconds.
Take a slow, intentional breath.
Drop your shoulders.
Place one hand on your chest and one on your belly if that feels good.
Ask yourself: How do I want to show up for my kids this afternoon?
It might be calm. Present. Open. Soft. Just naming it can help shift your nervous system. You might also consider a mini-transition ritual: playing a favourite song in the car, doing a few neck rolls, or saying a mantra like, I can reset. I don’t have to carry it all.
I make a point of getting to school early and sitting in the car doing a short meditation. This means a) I get a park close to the school, and b) I have completed my mindfulness practice and am ready for whatever the afternoon may throw at me.
Part 2: Pickup Time – Reconnection & Tuning InOnce you’ve grounded yourself, it’s time to shift gears and focus outward—on your child and what they need from you in that first moment.
Whether you’re collecting your child from school, kindy, or daycare, that first moment of reconnection matters. Before jumping into questions or logistics, pause and just see them.
Ask yourself:
What kind of day might they have had?
What energy are they bringing in?
What might they need right now? Food? Space? A cuddle?
Some kids come out ready to chat. Others need quiet. Younger ones might cling, whine, or want to play the second they get in the door. Try to notice without judgment. Sometimes it helps to
crouch down to their level and greet them with warmth, not urgency.
Remember, this transition is big for them too. They may have held it together all day and now, with you, they finally feel safe enough to fall apart. That’s not a sign of failure. It’s a sign of trust.
Let’s name it - school is a BIG day for kids. Even if they love it, it’s full-on. They’re navigating learning, social dynamics, following instructions, maybe sensory overload - and they’re doing all of that while keeping it together.
By the time they walk through the door in the afternoon, their energy tank is empty. They don’t need questions or demands straight away—they need space to decompress.
I often say to parents: “Would you want someone to ask you 20 questions and tell you to unpack your bag the moment you walked in from a stressful day?” Probably not!
Part 3: Home Arrival – Snack, Space & Emotional SafetyNow that you're in the door, your child’s external world meets the comfort of home—and your job is to ease that collision with warmth.
Once you walk through the door, the needs start arriving quickly. There might be complaints.
Tantrums. Overflowing bags. That dreaded shout: “I’m HUNGRY!”
Your first move here is simple: ground everyone.
Offer a snack—even just a banana or crackers.
Dim the lights or lower noise levels to reduce stimulation.
Give space without pushing them to talk.
This is also where mindful listening skills come in. If your child wants to talk about their day, try those four steps we talked about in Episodes 12 and 13:
Pay attention
Hear the facts and feelings
Reflect back what you hear
Express empathy
For example: “Oh, it sounds like you really didn’t enjoy maths today. That makes sense if it felt hard.”
This 2-minute pause to listen deeply can prevent 20 minutes of meltdown later.
And for little ones who come home clingy or cranky, remember that they’ve likely had to share, wait, and listen all day. They may just need to be held, rocked, or given a moment to rest without demands. Think of it as recharging their emotional battery.
Part 4: The Middle Hours – Tension, Choices & TransitionsWith the initial decompression done, now comes the unpredictable bit—the messy middle where everyone’s needs start to overlap and tensions can build.
One child wants TV.
Another wants silence.
Someone needs help with homework.
And you just want five minutes to go to the toilet alone.
This part of the afternoon is full of micro-decisions and potential conflict. Everyone’s tired, and emotions are running close to the surface. This is when your nervous system regulation matters most.
One tool we use in our house is the Yellow Spoon.
We literally have a bright yellow spoon. Each day, one child is designated as the decision-maker for things like:
What music we play
Who chooses the TV show
Who gets to pick first when it’s something fun
It swaps each day and is marked on the calendar, so everyone knows whose turn it is. And when conflict arises? We just ask, “Whose yellow spoon day is it?”
This removes the guesswork, diffuses tension, and empowers kids to feel seen and respected.
You might also notice rising sibling tension or your own fuse shortening. That’s often a cue to scale back stimulation—turn down the lights, switch off background noise, or give everyone 10 minutes of quiet before regrouping. A mindfulness bell or playlist can help ease these transitions gently.
P.S. In our house, after snack and connection time, the kids often get one hour of TV. And the person with the Yellow Spoon? They get to choose what we watch.
Part 5: Homework, Chores & RhythmsIt helps to have a routine for the afternoon and one of my favourites is “The Three Rs”:
Refill – snack, chat, quiet
Responsibility – homework, chores
Recharge – play, outdoor time, screens
These three R’s—Refill, Responsibility, Recharge—create a flexible but predictable flow.
When kids know what comes next, they don’t have to argue about it each time. And when they feel seen during the reconnection phase, they’re more likely to cooperate.
You might say, “Would you like to do your reading before or after your LEGO time?” This gives autonomy within structure.
Also consider the timing of requests. Mid-transition isn’t the best moment to remind them of chores. Instead, give a heads-up: “In 10 minutes, it’ll be time to start your job.” Visual timers or music cues can help make it smoother.
This is also when I ask for small responsibilities:
Lunchbox unpacked before dinner
Bags hung up or notes handed over
If I need more, I always wait until after they’ve had a chance to decompress.
Part 6: Homework Without the DramaLet’s talk about the dreaded homework. Every family is different, but I’ve found that setting a consistent but flexible homework routine helps.
In our house, we usually wait until after dinner. For some families, straight after the downtime might work better. You know your child best.
The key is predictability—when kids know what to expect, there’s less pushback.
A simple script you could try: “After dinner, let’s do your reading so you can have the rest of the night free.” “Do you want to do your spelling now or in 15 minutes?” (Offering choice gives them some control.)
And if it still turns into a power struggle? That’s okay. Your calm consistency matters more than perfection.
Part 7: The Paperwork and Artwork PileLet’s not forget the admin: forms, notes, newsletters… and the piles of artwork that come home.
Here’s what we do:
School notes go in a labelled tray near the kitchen.
Artwork goes in a basket.
Once a week—usually on the weekend—we go through both together.
We decide what to keep and what to recycle.
There’s a great Bluey episode where Bandit tries to throw out the girls’ art, and Bluey is devastated—until she learns that it’s okay not to keep every drawing. That moment of letting go can actually teach them about choice and emotional flexibility.
This habit not only reduces clutter—it teaches your kids that their contributions are valued, but we don’t have to hold onto everything.
Take-Home Action: Try the 3RsThis week, try creating your own afterschool rhythm using the 3Rs:
Refill – Offer a snack, some quiet, or connection time to decompress.
Responsibility – Choose one or two small tasks (like unpacking bags or lunchboxes).
Recharge – Allow space for play, screens, or outdoor time.
It doesn’t have to be perfect—just something gentle, predictable, and repeatable. This rhythm can make the whole afternoon feel more manageable—for everyone.
Wrap-UpAfternoons don’t have to be chaos. When we understand what our kids actually need after school—space, connection, and calm—we can shift out of nagging mode and into supportive, steady rhythms.
Give yourself permission to let go of the pressure to be productive straight away. The tidy-up, the homework, the questions… they can all wait.
Start with presence, not pressure.
And remember, you don’t need to do it all. You just need to offer your child what they need most in that moment—your calm.
Take the Next Step:If you’re finding the afternoon chaos hard to manage and want personalised support, I’d love to help. Right now, you can book a 1:1 SOS Parenting Support Call with me for just $50—that’s 50% off. In just one hour, we’ll get to the heart of what’s tripping you up and give you clear, practical steps to bring calm back into your afternoons.
Head to the link in the show notes to grab your session. Spots are limited.
Until next time, take a breath, and take gentle care.
Thanks for listening to Your Calm Parenting Path! I’m so glad you’re here, and I hope this episode gave you something useful to take into your parenting journey.
If you’d like to dive deeper, sign up for my mailing list at mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au for more tips and insights, or book a free chat to learn how we can work together. And don’t forget to hit follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode.
I look forward to speaking with you next time on Your Calm Parenting Path.
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