What are your 7yr olds like?

[Ownerofmultiplechimps]

just that really.

Ds1 is very challenging at the moment & I’ve lost all sense of what’s normal. Constant strops, rudeness, back chat & attitude. Plenty of things to do at home but just wants to annoy everyone (me, dh & his younger brother). Never wants to do anything, moans if we go out, stay in etc.

Dh & I always set aside time to do stuff with just him both together & individually. He does a variety of clubs (his choice). Lots of friends & no issues in school etc.

Is it just a difficult age???

Bumping for the evening crowd.

Watching with interest as my DS1 is 7 and he can be quite challenging. He has always been a bit difficult and can be anxious, which manifests itself in some interesting ways...

Obsessed with football and sport in general. Constantly on the go.
Prone to tantrums and flying off the handle especially when tired and after school (I'm assuming he's letting it all out after behaving himself at school all day!)
Can find it hard to accept NO or my decisions- will try to push back if he's not getting his own way.
Can be negative- first response is often NO.
Increasingly independent and won't accept help from me- wants to get his own snacks, gets himself ready for school, packs his bag etc.
He is getting easier though, he has been a bit of a challenge since the day he was born

Funny, cute, clever, needy, doesn’t listen and knows wayyyy better than I do!!

I’m finding extra clubs at school helps - more interests and more to concentrate on at home.

This reminded me of the "give me a child until he is 7 and I will show you the man" quote. Our 7 year old is bubbly and extrovert but yes we have seen the strops and attitudes you mention creeping in which we try to nip in the bud. Difficult time I think as they are now in the middle at school so have left the infants behind but not quite up there with the year 5s and 6s. Peer pressure and bullying may just be showing up and they have no idea how to handle things. Clubs are a good idea as they have a new mix of friends there and as you say their choice to pick what to try out and maybe drop again if it's not to their liking. Same as you op with setting aside quality time to do stuff and mix it up - painting, reading, jigsaw, creative. Sounds like you are doing a great job.

DS is 8 and 7 was tough. Obstinate, catastrophised an awful lot, negative, prone to overreaction, whopping great tantrums, felt out of control quite a lot. We found it v hard to remain calm sometimes but worked so hard to maintain firm boundaries as he could not cope with sudden change, late meals, lack of sleep, deviation from expectation. Lots of love, reassurance, forward planning, quiet time. He's 8 now and much better. Still quite challenging at times but slowly managing to attain better emotional regulation.

Ohh the moaning. Nothing was ever good enough it seemed.

I just wanted to add to my previous post that he was also funny, extremely loving, playful, curious and home loving. He still gives the best cuddles and is delightfully curious and quirky.

But, yeah, 7 was HARD.

Ds4 is 7 and quite cheeky at the moment, as he is pushing the boundaries, he likes to question everything I say or ask of him and if I say don't do that, it's like a compulsion for him to do it. However he can also be very funny and kind. From my own experience of having 4 boys with him as the youngest I have found that all children are different, their temprement has more to do with their attitude than their age. I have 3 older boys with the next one up being only 8 and he is very well behaved, doesn't really push the boundaries and is a much easier child to parent. Around this age, they are mixing with the older children at school and can be influenced by this so act out at times. Just be firm but fair about expected behaviour and give rewards and consequences as and when appropriate and hopefully his behaviour will calm down.

As above: curious, excitable, loving, affectionate, intelligent... and moany, over-sensitive, angry, dissatisfied.
It started in September. Interestingly a pp mentioned bullying, which it turns out is an issue for ds (2 girls who he didn’t pick as his girlfriend, plus one boy) and he’s hugely sensitive to any slight as a result.

Sensitive, melodramatic, a scarily good poker face, mad amounts of energy, clever as a weasel.