Quirky Kid

12/06/2026

The next time your child is having a massive meltdown, stop trying to talk them out of it. 🛑🧠

When a child is screaming, throwing things, or crying hysterically, their brain is in "flipped lid" mode (the amygdala has taken over, and the logical part of their brain is completely offline).

If you yell, lecture, or ask "Why did you do that?" you are trying to reason with a brain that is literally incapable of logic at that moment.

Instead, try Co-Regulation:

Drop to eye level and soften your posture.

Say less. Just be a calm, quiet presence.

Breathe deeply and visibly. Their brain will unconsciously begin to mirror your nervous system.

Once the storm passes and they are calm, then you can talk about behavior. You have to connect before you can correct.

07/06/2026

Does Sunday evening feel less like a relaxing family night, and more like a ticking countdown to a meltdown? ⏰
If Sunday dinners in your house are met with sudden tummy aches, tears at bath time, or a child who suddenly refuses to go to sleep, you are dealing with the school-age version of the "Sunday Scaries."

Anticipatory anxiety is incredibly real for kids.

As the weekend winds down, their brains start processing the massive shift ahead: moving away from the comfort and safety of home, and back into the high-demand, high-sensory world of the classroom. Because kids can't always articulate this stress, it leaks out sideways as defiance, clinginess, or physical complaints.

If Sunday nights are a weekly battleground, our clinical team suggests changing the Sunday script with these three steps:

1. Move the Prep to Sunday morning 🎒
Packing bags, finding uniforms, and hunting for shoes at 7 PM on Sunday drops a massive anchor of "school stress" right into their evening. Do all the school prep on Saturday morning or Sunday morning. Keep Sunday afternoon and evening entirely school-talk-free.

2. Watch out for the "Co-Regulation" Trap 🧘‍♀️
Kids are like little emotional sponges. If you are rushing around stressing about your own Monday workload, ironing uniforms, and snapping at everyone to get into bed, their anxiety will skyrocket. Protect your own calm on Sunday evening—they need to borrow your nervous system to soothe theirs.

3. Create a Connection Ritual ☕
Anxiety thrives on the fear of separation. Counteract this by creating a special, low-demand Sunday night ritual that promises connection. It could be reading a chapter of a book together in a blanket fort, a family movie, or hot chocolates in bed. Give their brain a high-comfort event to focus on right before sleep.

🗣️ OVER TO YOU: How do the Sunday Scaries show up in your house? Is it a sudden "sore tummy," a burst of hyperactive energy, or a massive bedtime delay?

05/06/2026

The "3:30 PM Meltdown" 🤯
You have just picked up your child from school and the teacher says, "They’ve had a wonderful day!" But the second they get in the car or walk through the front door, they explode into anger or tears.

The Clinical Why: School requires massive cognitive and emotional effort. Kids hold it together all day. When they see their safe person (you), their defenses drop completely. It’s a sign of safety, not manipulation.

QK Practical Tip: The "Quiet Car" Rule: Do not overload them with questions ("How was your day? Who did you play with?") the second they get in the car. Give them 10-15 minutes of quiet or low-volume music. Let them initiate conversation.

Pre-emptive Calories: Bring a snack to the school gate. A drop in blood sugar combined with emotional exhaustion is a recipe for a meltdown. Feed them before they ask.

02/06/2026

We know the guidelines say 'limit screen time,' but let's talk about the reality of a rainy Saturday afternoon in Sydney. How do you handle the transition off screens without a massive argument?

🍎 Tip 1: The "Dopamine Bridge" (The Sensory Snack)
The Clinical Why: Screens flood a child's brain with dopamine. Turning the screen off causes an immediate, uncomfortable chemical drop, which triggers the meltdown.

QK Tip: Don't ask your child to transition from a screen to a boring task. Instead, hand your child a high-sensory, high-crunch snack (like an apple, carrot sticks, or a cold smoothie through a thick straw) right as the screen goes off. The physical act of chewing and swallowing heavy textures regulates the nervous system and provides a quick, healthy sensory replacement.

Screen boundaries are exhausting, especially for neurodivergent kiddos (ADHD/Autism) who struggle deeply with transitions. If screen time is causing daily warfare in your home, our Sydney team works with families to build custom, low-stress behaviour plans. Click the link in our bio to chat.

29/05/2026

What shapes a child’s ability to cope with stress? 💭

In this parent workshop, we’ll explore the underlying factors that influence children’s behaviour, emotional responses, and resilience.

Drawing on current research in child development and stress, this session will help parents better understand:
• why some children are more sensitive to their environment
• how stress and instability can affect development
• what supports healthy emotional regulation
• practical ways to reduce overwhelm at home

Designed to be practical, supportive, and accessible, this workshop offers strategies parents can use in everyday life to better support both their child and the whole family.

We’d love to have you join us. Register now:

Understand what’s driving your child’s behaviour when stress takes hold. Discover the signs, learn how to create more stability at home, and find parent-friendly regulation strategies you can use right away.

28/05/2026

Our Parent Workshop Calendar is here!

Over the coming weeks, our psychology team will be diving into a range of topics designed to support, guide, and empower parents through every stage of childhood and adolescence.

You may have already seen some of our individual workshop spotlights — this is your chance to see the full lineup in one place and plan ahead.

Whether you’re looking for practical strategies, deeper understanding, or simply reassurance that you’re not navigating it alone, we’d love to have you join us.

Mark your calendar and explore the upcoming workshops here: https://www.childpsychologist.com.au/workshops

27/05/2026

Big emotions need calm, confident support — not bigger reactions. 🌿

If your child struggles with anger, emotional outbursts, yelling, aggression, or sudden meltdowns, this workshop is for you.

Managing Childhood Anger — June 11, by Bridget Tegg.

Learn how to:
✔ Understand what’s underneath angry behaviour
✔ Recognise body signs before escalation
✔ Respond without shame or power struggles
✔ Build emotional regulation and communication skills
✔ Hold firm, calm boundaries with confidence

This practical webinar will help you shift from reacting to responding — creating more calm, connection, and understanding at home.

Register now: https://www.childpsychologist.com.au/workshops/navigating-childhood-anger

26/05/2026

When a young person is struggling with suicidal thoughts or self-harm, parents often feel terrified, helpless, or unsure what to do next.

Do you ask directly?
Do you stay calm?
What if you make it worse?

In this important webinar, How to Navigate Suicidal Thoughts & Self-Harm in Young People, we’ll provide practical, compassionate guidance to help parents feel more prepared and supported during these deeply challenging moments.

You’ll learn:
🧠 How to recognise warning signs early
🧠 What suicidal thoughts and self-harm can communicate
🧠 How to respond safely and supportively
🧠 When to escalate and seek immediate help

This is a practical, parent-focused session designed to replace fear and uncertainty with knowledge, connection, and a clear action plan.

Register: https://www.childpsychologist.com.au/workshops/how-to-navigate-suicidal-thoughts-and-self-harm-in-young-people

22/05/2026

Parenting through meltdowns can feel exhausting. But what if those moments could become opportunities for deeper connection instead of conflict?

Join us June 10 for Navigating Meltdowns With Confidence — a transformative webinar helping parents understand the science behind big emotions and how to respond effectively when children are overwhelmed.

Learn why:
Logic fails during meltdowns
Lectures often escalate emotions
Children “flip their lid” under stress

And discover practical ways to:
✔ Calm the nervous system
✔ Build emotional resilience
✔ Respond with confidence and connection
✔ Support long-term emotional regulation

This workshop will be delivered by Suzan Odemis, register now: https://www.childpsychologist.com.au/workshops/navigating-the-flipped-lid-with-confidence

Real tools. Real understanding. Real-life parenting support.

Learn what the ‘Flipped Lid’ really means, how to spot early warning signs, and what to do in the moment. Practical scripts, co-regulation strategies, and a simple plan you can use straight away