DS is nearly 5. He is number 3 of 4 dc. Since toddler hood he has always been a sensitive soul and has had some behavioural issues. He has always been very clingy to me, he hates any kind of change and is generally a glass half empty kind of boy. I don't think this is helped by the fact his two older siblings are very confident and excel both academically and at sports, and I often think he feels he should be able to do the things that they can.
After Christmas things seemed a little better. He does both swimming and gymnastics and whereas before we would always have a scene before each activity we went through a phase where he just got on with it and really enjoyed it. Obviously he got better at them and has moved up groups.
This is proving to be a real challenge. He refuses to do each activity at the start and there is no reasoning. I understand he is a bit scared as there are some new people (same teachers though) but I know that once he starts he really enjoys it. It's like a switch being flipped and all of a sudden it's fine and he's enjoying himself. I just don't know how to flip the switch without having such a battle before hand. We have a reward chart at home but that didn't make any difference at swimming this morning and we ended up leaving without him getting in.
This all comes with a general change in his behaviour. He has gone back to being clingy. I volunteer a lot at school but it getting to a point where I can't be there as he just follows me around and won't engage in the activity he is supposed to be doing.
He is also very negative about EVERYTHING which is also said in a whine, for example we get in the car after school and I ask them all about their day. If for instance he tells me about his lunch he won't say how much he enjoyed it but whinge about the fact that he was only allowed a yoghurt the day before. Everything is said with a whiny voice.
He is such a sweet little thing but it is really emotionally draining right now. I want to help him enjoy his life but I don't know how to break this negative cycle.
Sorry for the epic post. Thanks for reading