Low blood sugar or something else?

[StayAwayFromDeliriumDive]

DS is 6. He is generally a happy boy, but can be grumpy at times like anyone else.

Recently (over the last few months) he has got increasingly and irrationally bad tempered at times, he has hit me a few times and has tantrums like a toddler. It took a while, but we realised that he seems to be much worse when he is hungry (after school, approaching mealtimes etc). We have tried giving extra snacks which seems to help, but then he tends not to eat much of his meal.

He is usually very well behaved at school, but lashed out at school today at a dinner lady (he said he was very hungry and was trying to sneak into the dining hall early) which has prompted me to post tonight. He loves school, but does struggle with the academic side (he would much rather spend the day doing sports). Recently one boy in particular had been telling him that he isn't very clever which he has been upset about and I have been meaning to discuss with his teacher.

I am not sure what to do about the low blood sugar (if that is even the problem) and would appreciate any advice from anyone who has had similar problems.

Apologies for the bump.

Does he get a snack at break time? This is encourage in my DCs school.

I would go and speak to the class teacher ASAP. I would also arrange for a meeting with the SENCO, if one has not already been arranged, just to get a watching brief.

If he is starving g after school, but not eating later, can you feed him straight after school separately? How much is he eating at lunchtimes? Are they long acting meals or quick release meals (lots of complex carbohydrates and meat, or things like white pasta and sugary puddings). What does he eat for breakfast?

They have a snack at break in the morning - fruit or veg sticks. I bring snacks at school pick-up and keep them in the car as I know he needs a quick sugar fix and bringing sugary snacks into the playground would be frowned upon (I am talking about a biscuit or similar and a yoghurt tube) - He usually has a some grapes to nibble while waiting for his brother though - the ten minute wait is hell with him at the moment.

Breakfast is usually cereal - Weetabix, rice crispies or porridge (with the odd treat box thrown in when I am feeling soft at the supermarket), and he can have toast, yoghurt and fruit as well, but usually refuses.

Lunch at school is the usual school meals - Jacket potatoes, pizza, pasta etc

Tea is usually cooked from scratch - Pasta, rice dishes, casseroles etc with the occasional quick alternative.

The problem is that if he has snacks he doesn't want his meals, and if he doesn't have his snacks he is horrible!

We don't have a Senco at school, but I will make an appointment with his teacher for next week.

Thank you.

The school has a SENCO, it is a legal requirement. I believe they now have to have a qualification as well. But they are often a class teacher or the Headteacher as well.

Does he eat bananas? I found these were good for my DC as a snack. apples are pretty slow release too. Is he drinking enough? Could you take in a small jam whole meal roll?

Ask the school how much he eats at lunch, they often rush out as soon as possible to play. At one point mine drank soup on the way home from school, that helped.

Hello

I had to reply to your post as I could have written it!

It sounds like there are several issues here, possible hunger, lashing out and his contentment at school.

My DS sounds similar to yours inasmuch as he is very hungry after school too and really grumpy. Like your son he does not eat his dinner if he snacks too much. So I have given him a snack and juice right after school and prepare dinner for 4.30. Not much fun I know but in the long run I can move the dinner time as he is able to cope with gaps between meals.

The issue of school itself a seems to be a separate one as is the teasing/bullying. Both need to be discussed with the teacher IMO.

If it is any consolation my DS has found the transition between year R and 1 hard as it is so much more work and less play. He would rather be out playing sport all the time if he could ( and tbh think at this age this is what boys /kids need) but in the UK we send kids to school very young and wonder why they go in to melt down......

Thank you both.

Horrible day and DS in trouble at school for hitting someone in his class - he says they started it, but that is irrelevant as far as I am concerned. I have no idea what is going on with him - he usually gets praised for kind behaviour.

We don't have a Senco as it's a small private school, but the head of infants is usually very good, so I might speak to her as well. I have been considering for a long time if the school is the best place for him and I really don't know what to do for the best - They have been a great support for him, but as he gets older the gaps are becoming more obvious and it is clear that is at a far lower standard than the rest of the class. State school provision is pretty poor where we are and we could just be making things worse by moving him though.

He isn't keen on bananas (he likes homemade banana loaf though - if the bananas last long enough to be soggy enough to make them!), but the jam roll is a good idea.

DS is in his room at the moment and according to DS1 is the talk of the playground.

I think even a poor State school could be better for him than this one tbh.

State schools have to be inclusive and deal with a wide range of students. I would frankly be wary of any private school which did not have a SENCO, even very selective schools have them (including Eton). It may be that your son is subtly being bullied (some children are very good at provoking others until they lash out), or he could have an undiagnosed SN or SEN, or he could just be a bit immature. It could also be that this school is better at dealing with girls than boys.

I would look again at your local schools. A friend of mine moved her son from the school parents were desperate to get their children in to, to the one in the "rough" part of town; and he thrived. I have seriously considered moving my DD from her "leafy suburb" school to the one in a much "rougher" area on the other side of town,

Low blood sugar can cause aggression. Sometimes weakness and lethargic.
I am just not sure what to suggest. As a diabetic, there are some bits that just don't seem to add up.

They may have a Senco, but she is very well hidden.

I've spoken to DS and he doesn't want to change schools - he says he will miss his brother who he usually hates!

He has been having speech therapy for a couple of years and the school have really supported him, put a TA in his session with him and she does extra work during the week with him - he has improved so much with this after a disasterous time with the NHS - I am not sure he would get this with a state school. We are at a stage now where it is only a subtle problem, but we are continuing as she is a real help with his phonics and reading which is a major struggle for him.

So, I have interrogated DS1 who assures me that DS2 has loads of friend and doesn't usually hit out in playground. DH has taken an hour off work in the morning so he can take DS to school and speak to his teacher - I am stuck at home with DS3 who has Chicken Pox.