my ds2 is 5 and from the minute he gets up, usually about 6am, he wants to start making things. for example, yesterday he got up and said he needed to make a black hood and sharp teeth, the other week it was a treasure chest. and the rest of the things in the days in between. he just will not relent and despite the inconvenience just gets on and does it but constantly asking for help/kicking up a fuss if we say no. for a start it's so early and secondly it's not a good time of day to be cutting/sticking etc. the mess is horrendous too! he has had some behaviour problems in the past which caused him to be excluded from his first school (now settling down into a v. samll school although still only doing mornings) and he just seems to be SO full-on. he's really naughty at bedtime too (tipped water all over ds1 bed the other evening after i'd thought i'd settled him down). he also asks very odd questions - e.g. when horses are running do their bones resist; what would happen if the world was made out of staples. just looking for moral support really as he seems so different to most 5 yo boys i know.

bump

Pru, he is old enough I think for you to explain that craft with Mummy can happen later in the day.

Put the sharp scissors/paints/teeny tiny bits in boxes, high up away from tiny hands. If he wants to, he can colour or stick larger items by himself.

Playdough might satisfy him ?

He sounds lovely, with his funny little questions. Aw
HTH

no advice, sympathy as it sounds exhausting, bumping for you.

he is a lovely little boy - just a handful . i'm too soft that's my trouble and i hate a fuss at that time in the morning. Good idea to put little things away so i'll try it and try to explain too although knowing him as i do i'll meet with plenty of resistance!

We have similar with dd (also 5). Except she wants to start about 5 mins before we need to leave for school!

Also get odd questions - this week we have had "are ana condas kind" and "How do fish die?"....

Thank goodness we're not the only ones! It must be partly an age thing with the questions i reckon - although i like to think ds might be a little bit brainy too .

Gosh he sounds clever! That brain must be moving along at the speed of light.

I don't have that much to offer in advice (DS learned pretty early on that mummy isn't much use until after 8 [and at least one cup of tea]) and so quite happily puts a DVD on for himself in the morning.

Just wanted to say that I think he sounds extremely bright, are there any sorts of games or whatever that he can be doing by himself in the morning to keep his mind active?

Thanks Morloth. I could see if i can get him interested in a quiet game instead. anything is worth a try to keep him occupied and stop the craft activity. (don't get me wrong, i'm all for them making things - just not at that time!)

We have the same thing, two DDs obsessed with craft, scissors etc. I put all that kind of stuff out of their reach but they can access colouring books and stickers (I buy bulk packs of the cheap stationary type stuff) and crayons (less dangerous than pens!). They're also not allowed to do anything til after breakfast.

Caught DD2 (aged 2) lying on the floor trying to hack off her hair this morning

Try those straw pack things as well (construct-a-straw?!) - you can make a lot of stuff with them and minimal mess!

construct-a-straw! I remember those. will have a look for them. off to collect him from school now so hoping the morning/end of week and he may be a bit tired (wishful thinking me thinks!) LOL about cutting hair, staranise.

Also have you tried making his room really dark on the days you want him to sleep a bit later?

On weekdays we leave our visors open so that there is light earlier on, on the weekends we lock them up tight so he thinks it is a bit later.

Books are good too, can he read at all? Maybe some books on horses or something?

Yes his room is really dark. We've got black out blinds and black out curtains so it's pitch black. For some reason though he still wakes early. I have a feeling the making could be 'a phase' and I may have to ride it out until he latches onto something else.

Oh, is this not normal then? Both of my boys do this most days - they are 2 and 5. From the second they are awake I get 'mum, can you make me some play dough?' 'can we cook now?', 'I want to make something', 'I need the paint', 'can you make pancakes?', 'can I have hot chocolate?', 'will you play with me?'. Followed by me pleading to first be allowed to make a cup of tea.

Thought this was just normal from a couple of bright chappies. Mine wake up like they have been shot in the arse, before 6am. Black out blinds do nothing either, its generally still dark when they wake up. Would just put it down to a zest for life and count yourself locky you have a bright boy who has new ideas for creating things.

I just give them access to the recycling bin and leave out some pritt stick and a pair of kids scissors, pens, etc. Not much damage they can do. I would rather clear up afterwards than have them sitting in front of the TV.

Or you could make them something to do the night before and put it a place where you don't mind a bit of mess. If you were to see my kitchen (and my herb bed) after my boys have been cooking (they are both obsessed with Jamie Oliver at the moment), you would count yourself lucky!! I would say its normal for someone who wants to grab life by the horns and no wait around for it to happen to them.

Yep, I have the questions too from my eldest: 'what's under the soil', 'whats under that', and what's under that'. 'What's inside my hand'. Good on 'em, that's what I say.