Have you ever opened a soft drink that had been shaken without you knowing? The second you twist the cap – fizz is everywhere. On a good day, you might laugh it off. On a bad day, it can be genuinely frustrating.
That moment actually says a lot about how our children and teenagers might sometimes react.
A student might have an outburst over something small - a forgotten lunchbox or a simple request to help unpack the dishwasher. To us, it can seem like an overreaction. But often, the reaction isn’t really about that moment. It’s about the pressure that’s been building underneath - school stress, friendship issues, family worries, social media, or a combination of things that have added up.
Like a shaken soft drink, they seem fine on the outside - until something tips them over.
As adults - parents, carers, teachers - we don’t and can’t always see that build-up. But we can try to respond with curiosity, not just discipline. That means asking ourselves: What might be going on here? How can I help release some of that pressure before it explodes again?
This doesn’t mean letting poor behaviour slide - it means recognising that behaviour is a form of communication. And often, it’s a sign a young person is overwhelmed.
We can support our young people by giving them space to talk, decompress, and feel safe. Encouraging healthy outlets like sport, art, music, writing, or simply getting outdoors can help. So can modelling calm, steady responses - showing them that it’s okay to ask for help and that they’re not alone in whatever challenges they’re facing.
And when the pressure does spill over, let’s try to remember: it’s not just about what happened in that moment. It’s about everything that came before it. What seems small to adults might feel huge to a young person. They may not have the words to explain it, but their reaction is real and seeing it from their perspective helps us respond with empathy.
At Impact Community ACADEMY, we’re working closely with students to support them not just academically, but emotionally and socially too. We want every child to feel seen, heard, and understood - especially when the pressure is building.
So, let’s keep checking in and showing up for our young people and try to help ease the pressure early – to avoid the next soft drink explosion.
