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Psychologist reveals 7 signs your child could have back to school burn out

Psychologist reveals 7 signs your child could have back to school burn out

From uniform battles to after-school meltdowns, a psychologist reveals 7 signs your child may be overwhelmed by the school day

Ruairidh Pritchard

Published: September 17, 2026 at 9:46 AM

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Back-to-school season can be exhausting for the whole family. But if your child is coming home completely wiped out, complaining about their uniform or melting down over seemingly tiny things, there could be more going on than simply getting used to the school routine.

Some behaviours that parents and teachers might understandably interpret as tiredness, distraction or bad behaviour can be signs that a child is struggling with the amount of sensory information they're processing during the school day.

Dr Bijal Chheda, Consultant Psychologist and Founder of London mental health clinic Nos Curare, says sensory overload can affect children in several unexpected ways. Here are seven signs parents can look out for as children settle back into school.

1. They're suddenly struggling to concentrate

Your child might happily spend an hour doing a jigsaw at home but struggle to focus for 15 minutes in the classroom.

A busy classroom places very different demands on the brain, with chatter, movement and other distractions all competing for a child's attention. For children with sensory sensitivities, that can leave less capacity to concentrate on their teacher or schoolwork.

Persistent attention difficulties can have other causes too, including ADHD and specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, so concerns are worth discussing with an appropriate professional.

2. Their school uniform is becoming a daily battle

That complaint about an itchy jumper or uncomfortable collar might not simply be an attempt to avoid getting dressed.

Children with sensory sensitivities can process touch differently, meaning a rubbing seam, label or tight collar may remain intensely noticeable instead of fading into the background.

Rather than assuming the whole uniform is the problem, Dr Chheda suggests asking which particular part is uncomfortable. Removing a label or adding a softer layer underneath could make school more manageable.

3. They can't seem to sit still

Constant leg bouncing, tapping and shifting in their seat can look like distraction, but movement can also be a way of coping with sensory overload.

For some children, fidget tools may provide a more purposeful outlet while allowing them to concentrate on a lesson. If the need to move is persistently affecting learning, however, parents may want to seek professional advice about what could be driving it.

4. Small things are triggering big after-school meltdowns

If the wrong snack or a small change of plan suddenly results in tears, yelling or your child shutting down, consider what they've already had to cope with that day.

Dr Chheda explains that prolonged sensory overload can leave a child's nervous system in a heightened state of alert. This can mean an additional disappointment feels much harder to handle.

In the moment, staying calm and allowing your child time to settle before asking them to explain what happened may help.

5. Noise and bright lights really bother them

Assemblies, noisy lunch halls and brightly lit classrooms can be particularly challenging for children who are sensitive to sound or light.

Once parents and schools understand a child's particular triggers, adjustments such as access to a quieter space or noise-cancelling headphones may help reduce the sensory strain.

Sensory sensitivities can also be experienced by autistic children. If you have broader concerns about your child's development or think autism could be a factor, seek advice from an appropriate healthcare professional.

6. They're complaining of stomach aches

A mysterious stomach ache doesn't necessarily mean a child is making excuses to avoid school.

Dr Chheda says feeling overwhelmed can be accompanied by genuine physical symptoms, including stomach pain. Instead of telling a child to push through it, parents can acknowledge how they're feeling and ask what was happening before the pain began.

Keeping an eye out for patterns could reveal that stomach aches regularly follow a noisy classroom, busy lunch hall or disruption to their normal routine.

Of course, recurrent, severe or worrying physical symptoms should also be discussed with an appropriate healthcare professional rather than assumed to be sensory overload.

7. They're completely exhausted when they get home

One of the biggest clues may appear once the school day is over.

Repeatedly coping with uncomfortable or overwhelming sensory input can require considerable effort, leaving some children mentally and physically drained by home time.

Rather than launching straight into questions about their day, Dr Chheda recommends giving children an opportunity to decompress. Changing out of their uniform, having some quiet time and following a predictable after-school routine may help them regulate before reconnecting with the family.

When should parents seek extra support?

Sensory overload isn't the only possible explanation for these behaviours, and individual signs shouldn't be treated as a diagnosis.

If difficulties with sensory input, concentration, anxiety, physical symptoms or emotional regulation are regularly affecting your child's school day, learning or wellbeing, seeking professional advice can help explore what's happening and what support might be useful.

About our expert

Dr Bijal Chheda is a Consultant Psychologist and Founder of Nos Curare Mental Health Clinic in London. She is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Practitioner Psychologist and is a member of the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies.

Authors

Ruairidh PritchardDigital Growth Lead

Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.