After a long day at school, children may not be ready to talk about their experiences or switch to home responsibilities right away. According to Cindy Felio, a psychologist, children need a decompression period—a short time to relax and adjust after being in a structured, demanding environment. During school, children spend hours listening, focusing, following directions, learning, and interacting with others. This mental and emotional effort can leave them tired, and they may need time to unwind before they can engage with family or complete household tasks. This decompression period can take many forms, such as eating a snack, playing, moving around, or simply having some quiet time. For some children, this time might involve more intense emotions, with previously well-behaved kids reacting strongly to small issues at home. Felio explains that these reactions are not always signs of a child being difficult or looking for conflict. Instead, they are often the result of the mental and emotional fatigue from the day. The effects of this fatigue can be subtle as well. A child might seem less focused, forget things, appear distracted, take longer to complete simple tasks, or have trouble following routine instructions. Felio suggests allowing about twenty minutes of decompression time without asking the child questions. This gives them space to transition smoothly from the school environment to home life. During this time, the child can engage in activities they enjoy, such as having a snack, playing, listening to music, drawing, or just being alone for a moment. Felio recalls a case where a child’s mother used to ask many questions right after school, but the child would often respond with "nothing" or "I don’t know." After the mother changed her approach and allowed twenty minutes of decompression time, the child often shared details about their day on their own. This shows that giving children space and time to adjust can help them feel more relaxed and ready to communicate when they are ready.