AIBU to expect a 5 year old not to draw on the wall?

[puddleduckmummy]

Am I expecting too much? He's never done it as a younger child & his 2 year old sister knows not to draw on walls. It just seems to be the latest in line of naughty behaviour that is really starting to get me down.

I've just gone completely nuts at him (it was 3 out of 4 of his bedroom walls) after a day of backchat, rudeness and insolence, it was the last straw. I always try not to shout and be angry mummy but I'd just had enough. Nothing seems to work with regards to his behaviour and I just don't know what to do.

Is this normal 5 year old behaviour?

I banned pens from my kids rooms at a similar age and they were only allowed to draw at the table. The kept asking could they take pens to their room and I let them on the condition they were sensible with them and they knew I would take them away again if not. They didn't draw on the walls again.

Shot in the dark but it is attention seeking? Does he get enough attention considering he has a 2 year old sibling too?

We make sure pens etc are out of reach unless we are actively supervising. Might be worth a try for a bit?

DS had a friend at aged 5/6/7 who would draw on the walls in my house.

She also drew on things like our bouncy castle.

Her mum had a very strict 'no children present' rule so she had to stay in her bedroom a lot of the time and I think she just went a bit bonkers having the freedom.

No, I don't think that's normal five year old behaviour. 2 yes, 5 no.

My friend's 5 year old drew all over our sofa. I wasn't impressed but don't have a 5 year old yet so don't know what is acceptable.

Feel for you they do test you don't they .
My dd all grown up now did this at a similar age and when asked why she did it she said "well you didn't say I couldn't draw on the walls "
She would also empty all her clothes of of the drawers for no reason at all .
Mind you she's 30 now with 3 children and now she's the one cleaning crayon off the wall 😁

I think it could be attention seeking. Me and his dad have said today his behaviour is good when he's one to one. And he is a a really good boy at school and at clubs etc (which is something at least!) But I don't know how we address this?

His room has been completely cleared of any form of writing implements! He has an IKEA easel in his room which he uses to practice his writing so he's already not happy he can't use that!

Does it get better? Do they get more trustworthy? (I'm only half joking!)

@poppy196 that made me laugh! That's the kind of thing my daughter will probably come out with! My MIL always says he is just like my DH at his age so I think it's DH's karma at play!

Think it's pretty normal. My 5 year old had never done it until he started school. Now he practises his writing and drawing everywhere I've now hidden all pens in the house

Don't feel bad about going mad at them both of mine did it albeit when they were a bit younger about 3. One of them was one the cream leather sofa (2nd hand from my mum and very old) and the other in the hallway. I went absolutely ballistic at both of them (separate incidents) and made them scrub it off! Punishment suited the crime as it were. They would never dare do it again afterwards i tell you now.

It certainly does get better and when he is trusted again he will know he needs to be sensible or lose that trust. Also makes writing in their room seem like a bit of a treat so win win!

I was one of those kids - despite my mother making me sit in a chair for the entirety of her cleaning them.
The only thing that worked was when she left it for all to see and when anyone asked who did it she would tell them it was me. And I would have to take the comments and looks - none of which were unreasonable.

Oh, and I've no idea why I did it. I just did.

Are you seriously asking that question? Of course a five year old should know not to draw on the walls. It does sound as though it's attention seeking.

I don't think its that bad - obviously tell him he's notop meant to but I wouldn't get that angry about it. Lots of little kids do things like that from time to time - just trying it out, not necessarily anything to do woth attention seeking. My 6 year old wrote a circle with pen on his school tracksuit the other day and then denied he did it - but cpuldn't say who had done it. I just reminded him we don't write on clothes.

He's gone to my mums for the night (already planned) and when DH told him he could tell Grannie and Grandad what he had done, he went white and is clearly not looking forward to doing that. Hopefully that'll help!

Thank you everyone, You have made me feel much better!

My 6 year old ASD child constantly draws everywhere. I keep trying to get him to stop, he's not getting the message. At the end of my tether.

I could not say whether a neurotypical 5 year old would know as I only have my boy. I think my niece who is 6 has known for a long time not too though and my sis's walls do not resemble a giant scribbling pad like mine do.

Maybe he's trying to get attention