Help for a stressed 10 year old

[FriskyMare]

DS is 10 and has just sat and passed entrance exams for three grammar schools. He has worked hard all year and seemed reasonably relaxed about the exam eg sleeping well, no behavioural problems until now. He has been having strops and tantrums, breaking his glasses on an almost daily basis at school. We tried the softly softly approach to no avail. Last night I read him the riot act, talked about consequences etc and we mutually agreed no computer that night. Yet again today I have a phone call to say he has broken his glasses. He is an extremely bright lovable wonderful child who can't seem to deal with making mistakes or things out of his control. Anyone any advice?
Am off to collect from school so will be bback on this thread later, thank you

What you write seems odd - how come he has already passed entrance exams for three grammar schools? The people I know whose children are going for state grammar school places have not even sat their exams yet and results do not come back for weeks, whilst independent schools have their entrance tests next term.

Has his teacher been able to talk to him to get any clues as to what his anxieties are? Is his move to senior school going to separate him from friends?
Presumably he is feeling under pressure academically as breaking his glasses look like a symbolic refusal to study?!

In our LEA the children sit exams in Sept/Oct for entrance to the schools the following september, we receive the results a few weeks later so we can complete the school preference form by the end of october.
He is worried about being separated from some of his closest friends, I have done my best to reassure him that there is always scouts etc, its like a red mist comes over him and he can't help himself. Funny thing is school is now fun (until SATS next spring)!

Why and how does he break his glasses?

Usually on the floor and stamps on them, or yesterday over the school railing where they narrowly missed landing on a passing skip wagon ( teacher laughed at that one!)

I am new to this board but felt I had to reply to your msg. My son is 10 and has just had Grammar school entry results which he passed. The amount of stress he has been under is overwhelming.He also is having problems with behaviour. He is crying about going to school, behaving badly in class and not working. Totally different from usual. I spoke to his teacher tonight and she said he has been a different child today. I really think he was so worried about passing even though he knows we liked the local comp school as a backup. He may have a rough day tomorrow who knows but I really think the cause was the build up of stress.

Thanks Pansy, good to know my DS is not the only one although his bad behaviour started after the exams and since the results came out, he has always been above average intelligence but a little emotionally immature, I think we just need to get him to talk about his feelings more and not just assume he's ok when he obviously isnt (does that make sense)

He must have been under alot of stress for a 10 year old and he probably managed to keep it under control till the exams were over. He maybe thinks he can let go of those bottled up emotions now. Maybe he needs a total break from work and some proper relaxation? Maybe he needs a pampering weekend?

We are having friends to stay this week end who have two boisterous boys so maybe he can let off steam with them, he's back to being my lovable DS at the moment, hope it stays that way and this behaviour was just a blip.

We are off for a few days break on Friday to try and forget exams and school for a few days. Wish schools would give them a break in the hols, they have given 2 huge projects for the week :0( When I was in primary we only had spellings, tables and reading. Our kids will be in permanent therapy by the time they are 30! Good luck FriskyMare and enjoy the visit from friends :0)

Get him to some sort of Martial Arts class pronto...a mix of relaxation and powerful body work would really help him. And reward him with a meal out or similar...he might just need fussing over bless him...how wonderful to do so well!

Oh cross post! Maybe the break wil help.