Children ages 4-10 are invited to participate in the latest show in Perrysburg Musical Theatre’s Broadway Beginners Series. Registration for Flakes! The Musical ends Sept. 1. 

Flakes! The Musical is a fun and heartwarming winter adventure filled with music, friendship, and laughter. When the Littlest Snowflake needs help, a lively group of Snowflakes and their playful friends, the Snirts, come together on a magical journey. Along the way, they discover that being different is something to celebrate and that everyone has a special place in the world.

The musical is led by mother-daughter duo, Katie and Madi Gankowski.

“We are excited to bring this unique musical to the stage this December. Flakes! reminds us that we are all perfectly imperfect and unique, just like snowflakes. No two people are exactly the same, and it is our individuality that makes each of us special,” Katie said. 

“I am excited to work on my second project as an assistant director with PMT. I can’t wait to see all of the Broadway Beginners’ smiling faces take the stage again!” Madi said. 

No experience necessary to participate and registration is $125. To sign up, visit perrysburgmusicaltheatre.org.

Full rehearsal schedule: 

September 3, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, & 28
October 1, 8, 12, 15, 22, & 29
November 2, 5, & 12
December 3, 10, 14, 15, 16, & 17, with shows on Dec. 18 & 19 

Rehearsals are 6-7pm, except for week-of-show they are 6-7:30pm. Call times for show dates TBD. 

Have you ever sat in a parent–teacher conference listening to glowing praise about your child?

“So well-behaved.”
“Such a pleasure to have in class.”
“Always follows directions.”

You smile and nod… while internally wondering if you’re talking about the same child who melts down every day around 5:00 p.m. The same child who bursts into tears over the “wrong” snack.
Who snaps at a sibling for breathing too loudly. Who falls apart when asked to pick up their shoes.

If this sounds familiar, you are not alone.

For many families, the after-school hours feel like emotional whiplash. And there’s a name for what’s happening: after-school restraint collapse.

But for some children—especially those with ADHD, anxiety, or sensory sensitivities—there’s another important layer to understand: masking.

What Is After-School Restraint Collapse?

All day at school, children are expected to follow rules, sit still, manage impulses, stay quiet at the right times, focus on academic tasks, and navigate complex social situations.

That takes energy. A lot of it.

By the time they get home, their emotional reserves are depleted. Home becomes the safe landing spot where everything they’ve been holding in finally spills out. Tears. Irritability. Defiance. Total shutdown.

It’s not misbehavior—it’s exhaustion.

The Hidden Piece: Masking

Some children aren’t just holding it together at school—they’re working overtime to hide how hard it actually is.

Masking happens when a child suppresses their natural impulses, struggles, or anxiety in order to appear “fine.” They copy peers, overcompensate, stay hyper-vigilant about rules, or push themselves to meet expectations—even when it’s incredibly draining.

Children with ADHD or anxiety are especially prone to masking. Girls with ADHD and/or anxiety are even more prone to masking due to the stigma surrounding being “too loud” or “too much.”

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As a parent, I experienced this firsthand. My daughter masked her ADHD and anxiety so well at school that educators didn’t initially see a need for support. Because she wasn’t disruptive. Because she was compliant. Because she worked so hard to appear okay.

But what teachers didn’t see was the emotional crash happening every single afternoon at home.

Masking can make it incredibly difficult for others to understand what a child truly needs. When struggles aren’t visible in the classroom, securing support—like a 504 plan—can become an uphill battle. The child looks successful on paper. Meanwhile, at home, they’re unraveling.

The after-school meltdown is often the cost of that invisible effort.

Why Home Gets the Fallout

Here’s the important reframe: children don’t melt down at home because they feel unsafe.

They melt down because they feel safe enough to stop pretending.

That emotional release means your child trusts you. They know home is the place where they don’t have to perform. It may not feel flattering in the moment—but it’s actually a sign of secure attachment.

What Can Parents Do?

Understanding the “why” doesn’t automatically make evenings easier. But it can change how we respond.

1. Expect decompression time

Instead of jumping straight into homework, chores, or activities, build in buffer time. Some kids need 20 minutes. Others need an hour. Think of it as a pressure-release valve.

For kids who mask all day, this isn’t optional—it’s essential.

2. Meet physical needs first

Many meltdowns are fueled by basic depletion.

Offer a snack immediately. Hydrate. Keep the first 30 minutes low-demand. A hungry, overstimulated child has very little capacity left for self-control.

3. Prioritize movement

Research shows school-aged children need four to five hours of active physical play daily—but many get far less during structured school days.

Movement helps discharge the stress chemicals built up from a day of self-regulation.

Bike rides. Trampoline time. Climbing. Wrestling or rough play. A quick trip to the backyard before dinner. Even 15–20 minutes can reset a nervous system.

4. Use sensory tools

Sensory input can be incredibly calming after a day of overstimulation.

Try:

• Playing with slime or kinetic sand
• Painting or water play
• Digging in the garden
• Petting or walking the dog
• A warm bath

These aren’t just activities—they’re regulation strategies.

5. Respond with connection first

When the meltdown hits, it’s tempting to correct the behavior immediately. But often what helps most is a calm presence.

Soft voice. Few words. Reassurance.

“I can see today was really hard.”
“You held it together all day.”
“I’m here.”

Once the nervous system settles, problem-solving can happen later.

When Masking Means More Support Is Needed

If your child consistently falls apart after school, struggles with anxiety, or seems exhausted from “being good,” it may be worth looking deeper.

Masking can hide significant challenges. It can also delay support.

If you suspect ADHD, anxiety, or another underlying concern, trust what you see at home. Document patterns. Communicate with teachers. Share specific examples. Sometimes schools only see the polished version. They need the full picture.

Your perspective matters.

A Different Way to See the Meltdown

After-school collapse isn’t a sign you’re failing.

It’s often a sign your child worked incredibly hard all day.

It’s the exhale after hours of holding their breath.

With understanding, patience, and intentional decompression time, evenings can shift from battlegrounds to reconnection points. Not perfectly. Not overnight. But gradually.

Because at the end of the day, every child needs one place where they don’t have to mask.

And for most kids—that place is home.

The Waterville girl, Annie Galati, was recently crowned 2026 Little Miss Majorette of America and Grand National Twirling Champion at the America’s Youth on Parade (AYOP) National Baton Twirling Championships at the University of Notre Dame at seven years old.

The titles are considered the two highest honors in the country for baton twirling.

For Annie, the accomplishment comes after a year of early mornings, long practices and travel to competitions across the country.

From football game to national champion

Annie first picked up a baton when she was 4 after watching majorettes perform at a football game.

Her mother, Maria Galati, said the family later took photos for a local baton group and put Annie in the program.

“She liked it right off the get-go,” Maria said.

Annie began training with The Sophisticates in Perrysburg under coach Andrea Whiting. She quickly caught on and began competing, pushing herself to improve.

By ages 5 and 6, Annie and her family were traveling to competitions around the country. This past year, they visited 17 states, giving Annie the experience she needed to compete at the national level.

A demanding schedule

Annie’s training schedule is impressive for a 7-year-old.

During the school year, she practices as early as 7am, attends school and returns to the gym for afternoon and evening practices that can last until 7 or 8pm. Weekends are often spent traveling to competitions or practicing.

Maria said Annie has never needed to be forced to train.

“She willingly gets out of bed and wants to do it,” Maria said.

Her parents also make sure she has time to be a kid. Family trips, friends, school and time with her younger brother are all part of the balance.

A goal she was determined to reach

After last year’s nationals, Annie told her parents she wanted to return the following year wearing the sash and crown. As the competition season progressed, her parents saw how serious she was about reaching that goal. “She knew she wanted it,” Maria said. “We realized she isn’t messing around. She is in it to win it.”

At Notre Dame, Annie finished first in modeling, second in another category and first in twirling. When the final results were announced, she was named both Little Miss Majorette of America and Grand National Twirling Champion.

“Her jaw dropped,” Maria said.

Annie said she was surprised by the result.

For her parents, the championships were a testament to her determination.

“It’s a true testament that hard work pays off,” Maria said.

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Building friendships through twirling

Baton twirling has also helped Annie develop friendships across the country.

“I have learned how to make friends and making goals,” Annie said.

She also shares her experiences through her Instagram account, @twirlinganne. Annie uses the account to interview fellow twirlers, asking their names, where they are from and what their favorite tricks are before having them demonstrate.

The experience has helped Annie become more comfortable meeting and talking with people.

“You can go a thousand miles away and you still know people,” Maria said.

Giving back

Annie has also learned that baton twirling can be a way to give back.

After learning about the Islamic Food Bank, which operates out of the same gym where she trains, Annie became interested in helping provide gluten-free food for families because she follows a gluten-free diet herself.

That led to the creation of “Annie’s Gluten-Free Corner.” Annie and her family helped collect donations and purchase gluten-free food for the food bank. They also organized a fundraiser where children could learn baton twirling while donations were collected.

“We made food and went to the store and stuff for the food bank,” Annie said. “And I know that can help so many people.”

More than a crown

Maria and Annie’s father, Jake, said they hope their daughter remembers more than the trophies.

They want her to remember the determination, friendships, family support and community she found along the way.

“We hope that she remembers how determined she is personally and that she can go after anything,” Maria said.

For Annie, one of the most meaningful moments came after her solo performance at nationals. She completed the routine without a drop, putting everything she had practiced into her performance.

“She was mentally prepared and she put it all on the floor,” Maria said.

When Annie finished, she ran to her parents.

“She was proud,” Maria said.

At 7, Annie has already reached the highest levels of her sport. But for her family, the greatest accomplishment may be seeing her learn that hard work can help her reach big goals and that success is even more meaningful when she uses what she loves to help others.