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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

5 yr old (in reception) exhausted and moody!

18 replies

bacon · 09/12/2010 11:12

Moody isnt the word - watch out if he's tired! He is a big, super healthy strong boy but really when I pick him up from school 3.15pm he's on the edge! Fine when I see him but the minute I get him in the car he usually flys off the handle over the silliest of things and he's driving me mad!

Last night we sent him to bed at 6.45pm and was asleep at 7pm. Usually he goes 8pm so doesnt usually fall asleep until 8.30pm so is this too late and having a knock on effect.

Some people have their children up late at the weekends by its impossible with him, even as a baby he had to be in bed at 7pm - couldnt take him out at all.

I'm a bit concerned if taking him to any group/after school club is just too much for him to cope with.

Is this normal, He's pushing me over the edge and the evenings are frought with danger and feel so shakey some evenings from his extremes.

Excellent in school!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

sethstarkaddersmum · 09/12/2010 11:14

all sounds very normal! have you talked to the other mums at school? I'm sure he's just tired and will be fine after Xmas hols.

Goingspare · 09/12/2010 11:15

At this stage in his first term in Reception, perfectly normal.

He's knackered.

Could you try giving him a little snack the moment he comes out of school? It might give him a bit of a lift if his blood sugar is low.

BlockedPoster · 09/12/2010 11:19

Normal, normal, normal.

At 4 or 5, boys have a testosterone surge that makes them wild and crazy for a bit. That could be part of it.

Agree about a snack - when I see dcs coming out of school I hold out a bun/flapjack/banana/croissant oh dear christ anything. Feed them before you speak to them. They have been known to walk open mouthed into a danish pastry.

The winter term goes on too long - I'm in favour of a month off over Christmas, I think they need it.

Goingspare · 09/12/2010 11:22

BlockedPoster - I too have been known to walk open-mouthed into a Danish pastry.

misscph1973 · 09/12/2010 11:32

Definitely normal - my dd was the same in Reception.

Can you give him a day off at home? I did, just one day, and it worked wonders. They just need a breather, Reception is a wonderful stage, but it really exhausts them.

Alternatively, if he is full time in Reception, maybe pick him up after lunch once or twice a week.

Original poster

bacon · 09/12/2010 11:33

Have talked to some of the mums but dont seem to have such wild behaviour.

I do feed him the moment he comes home, seems to keep him happy for a moment but later on he's still unpatetable.

Mind you - not looking forward to two weeks at home.....actually dreading it!

OP posts:

BlockedPoster · 09/12/2010 11:35

lol

And I bet that was your exact face at the time

Complete with hat.

BlockedPoster · 09/12/2010 11:36

(last post to Goingspare)

BlockedPoster · 09/12/2010 11:37

Ignore other mums - they often don't like to admit their darling turns into a savage beastie.

Don't wait till you get home. Baked goods in the school yard is the way to go. Then tea and telly till bedtime.

Bigmouthstrikesagain · 09/12/2010 11:43

my dd is exactly the same she is 4 1/2 and when I pick her up from school her first words are never 'hello' but 'I'm hungry' if I don't give her something to eat there and then it is a hellish walk home, 6 yo ds in yr 2 is also exactly the same (though he can usually make it home before meltdown) - really looking forward to when youngest dd is also at school and I have three hungry tired grumpy children to manage!

The hols are great - can't wait. No schedules and regular snacks = happier children (until they get bored!).

Original poster

bacon · 09/12/2010 11:49

In the car, I get "dont want to talk about it", "shut up mum". Hysterical crying and whinging!

Really, I dont mind schedules as not very motivated. I get more done.

I've got a 19m in tow too so planning for the hols is a nightmare as what to do - Hope not raining as he'll be kicked into the garden.

OP posts:

HouseOfBambooootiful · 09/12/2010 11:51

What do you usually do after school? If you can cut back on anything stimulating that might help.

Might his tiredness also be linked to a low-level bug? There are so many colds etc around that seem to be dragging on and on, they are bound to drain energy too.

systemsaddict · 09/12/2010 11:54

Exactly the aame here. We do snacks on pickup, no after school activities at all, very little at weekends and as early a night as we can manage. I am seeing a slight improvement compared to when he first started. Teacher thinks it will all be very different come the summer term, so it's not forever, but for now we are going for a very quiet life to help him recharge.

snice · 09/12/2010 11:57

give immediate food and don't ask about their day. let them come home and sit quietly with tv/books while you make 'proper tea' as my DS calls it.

Attempt chat once tea is eaten

zisforzebra · 09/12/2010 12:05

Totally agree with snice, he probably needs to time to just unwind before talking about what he's been up to. Give him the snack before you even get in the car and wait for him to volunteer the information. Keep it as low key and relaxed possible and stick with the earlier bedtime because they seem to need alot more sleep when they start school. Things will get better after the christmas holidays

The term before christmas always seems like a long haul. Mine are knackered too and they're in Yrs 2 & 4 so have had plenty of time to get used to it!

wannabeglam · 09/12/2010 13:04

Totally normal. I wouldn't do any after school clubs for a while.

8pm is late for a Reception child - I'd say 7pm for bedtime.

I'm surprised the school didn't warn you that your child would be returned to you grumpy - it's well known - he's exhausted. Even if your child was in childcare before school, school is much more intense.

Just think about how you feel when you're exhausted and it will help you cope with his grumpiness.

honkytonk · 09/12/2010 13:20

All sounds perfectly normal to me.

Dd was the same in reception. She has started year 1 this term and still goes to bed at 7pm. This seems to work for us and I think helps prevents kids becoming over tired. Also limited after school clubs to just one so that she did not feel she was missing out but was not over committing herself.

Also so many bugs and things about at the moment.

I am sure your DC will gradually adjust in time but it is perfectly normal.

MerryMarigold · 09/12/2010 13:29

Bacon, was thinking exactly that today about my ds1, also in reception. He's shattered, and that has knock-on effect on his behaviour, which must also have knock-on effect on his time at school.

Am looking forward to holidays, to allow him some time to rest up and relax a bit.

Have you tried an afternoon nap...I gave him a 2hr nap on Tuesday (4-6pm) and he went to bed at 9pm and slept through (this was because we were going out). The other day we drove somewhere after school and he fell asleep in the car (it was a longish trip).

Let him watch TV after school and zone out.

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