To ask if this is normal

[Teaandbiscuits88]

My 4 year old cries or whinges pretty much all day. She is very clumsy and seems to hurt herself every five minutes. Whenever she does she immediately screams at the top of her lungs - even if she isn’t actually hurt. I’m not exaggerating by saying this happens several times an hour.

If it’s not her hurting herself she’s just generally whining or crying. We’ve tried everything - from just ignoring it to reward charts, time outs and praise for good behaviour. I’m at my wits end - is this normal??

She gets lots of sleep, lots of attention and cuddles. She also has time to play independently or just chill and unwind.

Hmm, that doesn't sound quite right OP, is she a young 4, or an older 4, nearly 5? Does she go to school?

Can she say why she's crying/upset? Must be awful for both of you, have you had her checked out by GP/Health Visitor?

She’s going to school in September- will be 4 in March. It’s mostly when she falls over/knocks herself/her brother brushes past her that she really loses it.

She does also cry/whinge when she doesn’t get her own way but obviously I can’t give in to this. I assumed it was just a phase but it’s been going on since she was 2.5!!

I actually have a gp appointment this afternoon about something else for her so I’ll mention it then - I just want her to be happy.

Does she bruise easily? If it's whenever she has a minor bump I'd be considering if she might be feeling more pain than would be expected?

Yes she does bruise very easily

Yes, I'd mention it and see what they say, hopefully somebody more knowledgeable than me will be along with some advice soon.

So she’s 3, not 4? This kind of ‘mode’ can be quite normal as a phase with a 2 or less likely, 3 yr old. I’d expect it to be gone by 4. But definitely get checked out if you’re worried. My nearly 4 yr old had a patch of this for a few months when about 2.5. My now 2.5yr old is permanently whinging and dramatic and miserable since birth really but that’s her personality.

Speak to the doctor about it, in case it's not whining and she genuinely is hurting more than you would expect, especially given she bruises easily, there could be an underlying condition

My DS was like this last month. The heat and lack of sleep made him extra clumsy and super whiny. I spent two weeks straight telling him off fir whining before he finally stopped.

Sorry I meant to say she’s 5 in March.

I’ll definitely mention it today to rule out anything underlying. She’s just so clumsy! She has no spatial awareness at all and reacts to everything in the most extreme way.

It may be a phase, it may be a sensory issue, ask the GP who you need to see for a sensory profile for her.
It used to be pretty standard that some OTs specialised in sensory processing, nowadays it depends on the area you live in.

See if anything else she does sounds familiar on this checklist.
www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-processing-disorder-checklist.html