6 year old son cries easily and gets in a mood a LOT

[lazygaze]

I would describe my son as a happy healthy boy, but he gets in a mood a LOT and cries easily. This happens numerous times a day over: getting dressed, toys being put away, refusing to let him watch TV, having to go out.... the usual stuff I suppose. He throws strops- not screaming tantrums but more like 'FINE!' kind of strops, he will flounce out of the room with his arms crossed and mouth pursed, and will end up crying. I don't feel as though this is due to inconsistent parenting- we are both very hands-on parents, self employed so around a lot, supportive of each other, we don't undermine each other, argue, or over react. There are no problems at home, everyone gets on well. He eats and sleeps well. He makes friends easily. His school isn't perfect but he always goes in happily each morning and comes out smiling. He gets lots of exercise. It's just been like this for so long now. We also have a 16 year so I KNOW from experience this is most likely just a phase, he will grow out of it, etc etc- it's just been going on for so long now! I feel like we deal with it appropriately when it happens - we talk to him, calm him down, validate his feelings but remind him his actions affect others around him.. WHAT MORE CAN I DO!!!!!!!!!! lol. it just really came home to me how used to his behaviour I have become because yesterday he woke up and was happy and cheery from when he woke to when he went in the school door. Then it struck me that that NEVER happens, he always gets in a mood about something or other. It is like it has become habit. Anyone else with similar experience? HELLLLP MEEE PLEASE XXX

Honestly seems a like my 6 year old, he's just a bit of a drama queen and I hope that as he models his peers behaviour more, he'll forget about being so over the top about small things...

Sounds pretty normal to me

Very familiar to me. I've always thought my six year old was sensitive but there are some mornings were I am absolutely exasperated particularly when it's a "I want I want" strop.

My advice is to massively acknowledge when he's not stropping which has helped a bit. It might be in Calmer, Happier Parenting where they make the point not to praise it but to acknowledge it "you accepted that you weren't going to be able to open all the presents that arrived today really calmly" (NB what I didn't say today and what didn't happen - he screamed, I yelled, hideous).

His three year old brother seems to have the best technique which is to prance around being silly in front of him which seems to break his mood but I can't rely on that happening every time, sadly! And am mindful of making this the three year old's role obv.

Mine has got better over the last six months or so (now 6.5) and is also calmer and more focused at school. Maybe your good morning the other day is a good flag that the tide is turning.