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Behaviour/development

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Please tell me about your 4.5 year old...

3 replies

LeNameChange · 24/01/2012 17:10

My beautiful :) 4 year old DS has suddenly gone from being a happy, easy boy full of the joys of life to being really miserable since Christmas. List of things:
(a) He has decided he doesn't like nursery anymore (he's been going for 1.5 years and loves it) and cries most mornings.
(b) At nursery he is generally happy once there, but every couple of days there is a minor incident - yesterday was flooding the bathroom by leaving the taps on (he swears this was because he couldn't get the taps off but the teachers say he was standing watching them).
(c) He has decided that he hates bedtime and cries and has long discussions about how he is sad in his bed on his own and he'd like to sleep with Mummy and maybe Daddy could sleep in his bed?
(d) At weekends, he used to love going out, to the museum, park, lunch etc and now he just wants to "stay home and play with his toys" (or 'cuddle Doggy' - his toy he sleeps with).
(e) He gets much more angry more easily and tearful more easily.

It is so sad because he was so happy before. Nothing has changed, we were away for a week at Christmas at my Mum's but no major life upheavals at all. I am really sad for him, and talks don't seem to elucidate much.

I feel guilt. guilt and more guilt because I work F/T although I do take him to nursery every morning and am home by 5.30pm every day. Also I never work weekends. Is this my fault? what can I do? Is this a phase? He has a younger sister but this doesn't seem to be linked to her (and she is almost 2 now so he's had lots of time to get used to her...).

Wits end and sad.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
howcruelcanpeoplebe · 24/01/2012 17:24

please check there is no medical cause. My DD was like this last winter and apeared to be linked to ears/glue ear - she went from the happiest to very sad but without obvious ear infections and didnt say it hurt. She was especially bad first thing in the morning. By spring she was back to herself and fluid on the ear gone according to paediatrician. I know from experience with my DS that they cant always express pain.

LeNameChange · 24/01/2012 17:28

I will, that's a good tip. He's been really run down and has had a series of colds/coughs/conjunctivitis poor thing. I will take him to doctor's x

OP posts:
Africagirl1 · 24/01/2012 18:30

I am sorry you are going through this - it's tough to see them unhappy. I have son the same age. Maybe check with his school/nursery if they have noticed a change? My DS does go through stages where he seems more needy and vulnerable - I think it's all part of their emotional development

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