For sale - 5 year old boy with behaviour challenges

[niceglasses]

Last few days he is driving me insane........I am on the wine as we speak. Can I really send him to bed with no tea at 5pm? I only picked him up an hour ago and urghhhh we have spent that hour arguing which is becoming the norm these days. Am loosing any confidence may have had as mummy.............help...........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm in the same boat with my nearly 5 yo, so it's not good swapping for mine

Do you think tiredness or hunger could be an issue?

The lighter nights mean he is staying up later and he 'looks' tired to me. I also worry about food....he takes packed lunch but sometimes doesn't seem enough, nor does he eat it all. I hate this fighting. He is usually not too bad, though never an angel. Recently taken a nose dive..........

Do you think it might be the end of the school year? My nearly 5 year old DS - who is most of the time a real poppet and fairly low maintenance (has a younger sister who makes up for it, though!) - has, over the last 2-3 weeks, been really whinge-y, a bit quarrelsome, a bit defiant and easily moved to tears. He is in the nursery part of his school, doing 5 mornings and three afternoons, and frankly I think that(coupled with the light evenings, light mornings and hot sleeping conditions) is all catching up with him Our nanny says he is almost fading in front of her eyes. I think he really needs six weeks of holiday, and lots of time in the tent in the back garden, some picnics in the park, low-key trips to the library and lots of lazing around.

Wise words folks - I never thought about the end of the school year, but that does make sense. He has just started 'playing out' (in a small way) and I think this is tiring him as well. Think a few early nights are called for, but I am hating this fighting all the time.......

I was just going to say if he looks tired he probably is & to sling him in bed earlier, lighter nights or not. Mine all still go to bed more or less same time, after all , they gotta go out same time

HI,
I also have a nearly five year old son, he was always really horrific when he came home from school, I think they are cooped up so much in the classroom that they have to let of stream and frustration when they come home. I also think that it is a way of demanding attention as they have not seen you all day. My son also was always starving so as soon as he came in, I would give him a honey sandwich or even give him one when I picked him up and that helped a bit.

I have however totally cured that problem now, I have taken him out of school in favour of home education and he told me that he is the happiest kid in the world. He sleeps in till 10am in the morning and has no stress. He learns through play and is not being forced to sit still for ages, as he needs freedom to jump and move about,

good luck,

Lisa (just found mumsnet)