Grumpy six year old

[PrincessTuna]

My DS is relentlessly downbeat and it's getting to me. It's just the two of us at home.

It's not just stuff like going to school. Its every activity beyond the living room - the park, seaside, you name it.

Its draining me. I'm just saying "I'm not arguing we are going" then he drags himself out, he soon enjoys it but the dramatic build up is really annoying me.

He declares he hates his life, that he wants to hurt himself, that he hates himself. I find it really upsetting to hear.

What can I do?? Will it pass. Do I ignore. Do I tell him he is being spoilt. Do I pay attention. Do I neck gin.

Do you ignore a 6 year old saying he hates his life and wants to hurt himself? Absolutely not! He's not being spoilt. Take him to the GP ASAP

He says it in response to me asking him to get ready for school. Trust me I know it's not a serious threat, he is fine when I am not asking him to spring into action.

I'm especially interested in other parents who have children with similar personality types or phases.

My 6 year old went through a phase of this towards the end of lockdown. It tended to come out when he was stressed with the schoolwork, which is often the point he would get upset and say things like you mention above, and also that we didn't like him or want him to be here.

I talked to the play therapist associated with the school, who said it was most likely anxiety which can manifest in many different ways, and that is was best to validate their feelings etc. I did use this tactic, but eventually realised I needed to not overdo it, as he had started to realise that saying these types of things got him a lot of attention. Anyway, he's improved a lot since he's been back at school.