Full Moon, Big Feelings? Why Kids Might Feel a Little More Dysregulated During Solar Shifts

We’ve all been there. Ours kids are suddenly “more” — more energetic, more sensitive, more emotional. We think “Is it a full moon or something?!” As it turns out, parents, teachers, and medical professionals have been swapping “full moon stories” for generations -- and for good reason. 

While there’s no strong scientific proof that the lunar phase itself flips a switch on kids’ moods, the data does suggest that the circumstances around a full moon can set the stage for bigger feelings, wilder evenings, and harder bedtimes.  

Why the Full Moon Feels Different for Kids 

Often unintentionally, full moon phases lead to subtle shifts in our normal routines, regulation, and even our expectations. Here are some of those areas that then influence mood and mental health. 

• Later nights & brighter light

  The huge, glowing moon is exciting to see… and it can keep our bodies and brains from winding down in a normal circadian rhythm. Less sleep = shorter fuses the next day. 

• Busy evenings

  Full moons often fall on weekends, when schedules stretch and bedtime routines are shifted. The instability and spontaneity might be connective or productive in the moment but lead to uncertainty and emotional volatility when routines are interrupted often. 

• Expectations

  If we expect kids to be “wild” during a full moon, we notice dysregulation more, and we may respond to it in slightly different ways than we normally would, like giving more attention to the chaos than the calm.  

• Energy shifts

  With the folklore surrounding full moons, there are often imperceptible energy shifts within ourselves and society during this period. Kids tend to be even more sensitive to noticing these shifts, may be experiencing them themselves, and may be responding to the noticed, but unnamed, differences with dysregulation. 

• Sensitive systems

  Children with anxiety, ADHD, sensory sensitivities, trauma histories, or just big personalities can feel these small changes more intensely in their mental, emotional, physical, and social health. 

How This Shows Up in Everyday Life 

While people’s experiences vary widely across cultures, ages, and seasons, you might see some of the following indicators that your kiddos are experiencing some “full moon feelings”: 

• Meltdowns over small frustrations 

• Trouble falling asleep or waking in the night 

• Extra clinginess or defiance 

• Seeming “wired,” even when tired 

• Bigger reactions and emotions to normal stimuli 

These are normal signs of a nervous system working harder to regulate itself.  

The good news? There are ways to help yourself and your kiddos feel more like themselves. 

Your “Full Moon Calm” Game Plan 

A few small tweaks in your normal routine can make a big difference for everyone’s regulation and sanity during emotionally-heightened periods: 

1. Protect Sleep 
   Move bedtime up by 15 – 30 minutes a couple nights before and after the full moon, especially if you start to see differences in energy shifts or behavior. Dim lights early and keep the bedtime routine calm and predictable. 

2. Anchor the Day 
   Give kids something steady — like a predictable snack after school, a consistent bath-and-bed sequence, or a short evening walk — to help their nervous system settle into safety in routine. 

3. Fill the Connection Cup 
   Kids often feel and act “more” when they’re needing extra reassurance. Ten minutes of one-on-one time with your full attention can head off disconnection meltdowns later. 

4. Mix Movement with Calm 
   Get the wiggles out in the afternoon with active play, then transition into slow, sensory-soothing activities before bed (warm bath, dim lights, reading, snuggles), giving both more time than usual if necessary. 

5. Teach a Simple Calm-Down Tool 
   Try "giving your energy or big feeling to the moon.” Help your child imagine squeezing all of the energy or feeling in their body into a little energy ball in their chest or hands through breathing or muscle tension and release exercises. Then, look at the moon and guide them in slowly lifting and releasing this energy out through their hands and up to the moon.  

6. Regulate Yourself 
   Find your own place of calm and regulation when you feel your emotions rising and your patience thinning. Our kids feel our energy and respond to it, knowingly or not.  

Final Thought

The full moon might not be magic, but the moments surrounding it can be. You’re not alone in reaching for extra support — or an extra cup of coffee! — during big solar shifts! The good news is, even during semi-stressful events we can’t change (like the planets aligning during a supermoon), we can choose to create our own magical moments of slowing down, making memories, and connecting together. 

What are some of your favorite full moon magic moments you’ve created with your friends, family, and kids? 

Allyssa Staker, MS, PCLC