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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

Calling all parents of 5 year olds......

20 replies

Earlybird · 14/08/2006 15:40

........what exactly are you experiencing as "typical" behaviour at the moment? Has the summer break changed your child's behaviour, and if so, how?

Looking for some of that famous Mumsnet empathy/sympathy and perspective!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

gothicmama · 14/08/2006 15:58

think they miss their friends in the hols dd has been her usuall self except when bored when she has been very high maintenance

Norah · 14/08/2006 16:00

My dd has been a right royal nightmare !

Loads of tantrums - wants 100% attention all the time and is extremely challenging !

Has been offered playdates - but says she "hates x" and "can't stand y" - I keep telling myself it's just a phase !

prettybird · 14/08/2006 16:01

Ds is getting very "cheeky", even insolent (most unlike him).

Fortunately, he starts back at school next Monday!

moonshine · 14/08/2006 16:01

My dd typically bullies her 2 year-old brother to do exactly what she wants. But, tbh, she has been more self-sufficient this time round and she has always been high maintenance. Saying that, she is also much more defiant...

Original poster

Earlybird · 14/08/2006 16:03

Hmmm. Agree. DD is an only, so she has tried many methods (some endearing/some maddening) to get my attention when she is not occupied. Seems that she is much more demanding atm, but it may be because she's with me so much more so needs more attention/stimulation than during the school year. I'm tired.

OP posts:

southeastastra · 14/08/2006 16:03

my ds5 has been a pita

cazboldy · 14/08/2006 16:17

I am the odd one out. My ds2 aged 5is the easiest one of my 4 children. I really love the hols and like the extra time I have with my kiddies. The hols are flying by!
We are lucky though, as we live on a farm and my children have loads of freedom and outside things to do!

mckenzie · 14/08/2006 16:25

5 year old DS was horrid for the first 5 days (we'd gone on holiday), moaning, crying and lots of "it's not fair". Then he settled down and was great for the rest of the holiday and the following week. So far this week though, he's tired I think so i'm giving him a bit of slack. I'm having more hassle from my 17 month old DD. She is being a little madam!!

You do have my sympathy Earlybird. I lost it completely yesterday with both of mine, verbally only. I was obviously so scary though that the 10 minute journey home was done in complete silence .

mykidsmum · 14/08/2006 16:29

my 5 year old is really struggling with the break from routine, he struggles with time concepts so just doesn't understand when he'll be back at school. His behaviour goes from being excellent, helpful, kind , sharing with siblings etc to violent aggressive and verbally quite abusive, its actually been making me feel very sad. When I talk with him about his behaviour he gets very upset, and without prompting is very apologetic but jeez he is really testing me.

waterfalls · 14/08/2006 16:30

My 5 yr old winges and bloody moans all day long.

sandyballs · 14/08/2006 16:33

Well, my 5 year old twin DDs have surprised me this holiday. To say they are usually quite lively and challenging would be an understatement , but they have played very nicely together, there have been very few bust ups and very few tantrums. I've really enjoyed their company and hope we've turned a corner behaviour-wise.

Aly27 · 14/08/2006 17:06

My five year old has loved been on holiday, he has done loads of things as well as having time to play at home. As I work three days I have found the childcare routine a nightmare but he has adapted very well. Next weeks return to school is going to be a nightmare though....

Clary · 14/08/2006 17:12

DD can be so sweet, equally can be very high maintenance (screamy, vicious, etc). We have had both this holiday.
By the end of term she was well ready for a hol, really stroppy come 5pm, and that has improved. she is still horrid sometimes to both brothers tho.
OTOH has done a FAB holiday scrapbook I am very pleased with her effort. But then she likes to be given a task to do (and hence gets on well at school).

lol at scary mum silencing the children mckenzie! I got so overwrought with them the other day I was in tears (well I had had all four members of my family asking me to do something at the same time that morning) and after that they were suddenly cowed into silence!

cardy · 14/08/2006 17:15

My dd has suprised me during the school holidays. She has been much better than when she was at school. I have put it down to being less tired and having more attention and also eating more - she is a real nightmare when she's hungry. I don't think she eats much at school.

I don't want to count my chickens but the first two weeks of the schools hols have been great fun. Let's see if I am still saying that in three weeks time!

southeastastra · 14/08/2006 17:16

i think my ds(5) needs school, he seems out of control at home

tigi · 14/08/2006 17:30

my 6 yo very tearful, and shouting......he needs his routine back!

Original poster

Earlybird · 14/08/2006 20:26

Well, as I said earlier, I think the lack of routine and therefore the lack of structured activity is our problem. During the school year, she is pretty good at keeping herself entertained for the odd hour on the weekends. But during the summer holidays when it's day after day of free time, she looks to me to plan things. I've done pretty well with keeping her occupied, but when I have to simply crack on with work/chores/paperwork, she whinges and pesters enough to test a saint. I get cranky when I don't have some downtime/freetime, and she gets cranky (demanding, obstinate, rude, etc) when she's bored. Vicious circle!

OP posts:

Original poster

Earlybird · 14/08/2006 22:14

I just realised that it's been almost 3 weeks since we've had any sort of break from each other. So, have booked a babysitter for a few hours tomorrow and again the next day. Hopefully that will leave both of us refreshed and more patient/tolerant in each other's company.

OP posts:

kittyb · 14/08/2006 22:32

House is a shambles - find it very difficult to get on with any chores without ds (5 in two weeks)appearing behind me "play with me mum/what will we play now mum/you said you'd play with me mum" etc etc)

He starts school on Monday so feel so guilty as through gritted teeth I growl "will..you..just..let..me .hang...out..the..washing" or worse "I'm having a pooh right now, I'll rebuild your marble run as soon as I'm finished, please leave me alone now"

Phone calls are the worst, as I walk round the whole house with the shadow following me "mum, mum, mum, mum"

But the worst thing is I'll really miss him when he goes to school. So who cares about the house, I'm going to try to have fun and enjoy this last (sob) week

Original poster

Earlybird · 15/08/2006 12:30

kittyb - know just what you mean. It's relentless. But I find 30 minutes after she's in bed (and I've had 30 mins of peace), I go check on her and can barely resist the urge to cuddle her!

OP posts:

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