Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

When good behaviour turns to bad

1 reply

Kaye999 · 22/11/2017 04:55

The heading seems contradictory but our 4 year old granddaughter is a charming well behaved little girl who is very bright, articulate and extremely caring. Her reception teacher told us she would love a classroom full of children like our granddaughter. She is eager to please, attentive always does as she is asked and polite to teachers and peers. So far so good. However as soon as she returns home with her Mum and younger brother (whom she adores) she becomes a different child. Stroppy, rude, sometimes aggressive, everything “is boring” won’t eat, cries and generally drives her mother to distraction. This can also be the pattern at weekends when activities and outings are planned, she will happily join in and have fun, then complain that when the event has ended she’s bored and needs to visit someone else or be taken to another activity. I am slightly more tolerant of my granddaughters behaviour as being her Grandma she doesn’t seem to push the boundaries as much and of course I don’t see the outbursts of bad behaviour on a daily basis like my daughter does. Do any of the parents/grandparents/carers on here have any experience of this type of behaviour. My granddaughter certainly seems to accept the boundaries when engaging with peers and teachers. However add either the home environment/ parental demands or shared time between herself and her younger brother and she becomes nearly impossible at times wanting attention and her own way. Any advice gratefully received.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
jaimelannistersgoldenhand · 22/11/2017 08:24

Many kids behave differently at school compared to home. They don’t want the embarrassment of the teacher pointing out bad behaviour and they don’t want to face the consequences of being naughty at school.
School is physically, emotionally and mentally taxing so it’s only natural for that to be reflected in poorer behaviour at home. This term is the longest and not helped by it being darker earlier. My kids are much older but looking forward to the Xmas holidays.

My tips are

  • turn up at school pick up with a snack/drink. My kids (much older) are still ravenous after school.
  • consistent rules (maybe use the school’s wording like “kind hands and feet” rather than “no hitting “)
  • earlier bedtimes on particularly bad days. School is tiring even for those used to full-time nursery.
  • lots of hugs and cuddles on the bad days. It’s hard for 4 year olds to say that they are tired and would like to be quietly snuggled on the sofa rather than having little brother being noisy in the same room.
New posts on this thread. Refresh page