The title of this thread is what myself and my husband ponder fairly frequently about our DS!
DS is a very smart, sweet and funny little boy. He has a large vocabulary and was an early talker. He is at pre-school three days a week while I’m at work. He has a younger DD and has a good relationship with her (there is the usual ‘that’s my toy!’ but nothing else) which is brilliant.
Behaviour wise his pre-school have raised no concerns. He does talk to other children but prefers to play more alongside them still. He had an entire year out of childcare due to covid and needing to be shielded due to a respiratory condition but he’s done really well since going back to childcare in May this year.
Our concern is about how angry/defiant he gets. He can also be very contrary and at times his behaviour just doesn’t make sense to us - though we recognise that it may be due to something important to him.
Take now for example. He didn’t want to get in the bath. When he’s in the bath he doesn’t want to get out. He won’t stand up for my DH,
and cries because DH can’t physically lift him out of the bath from a seated position. We’re talking real, rolling down the cheeks tears.
When playing with his toys he will just throw them across the room if something has angered or upset him about them. No amount of acknowledging he’s upset and encouraging him to use his words when he’s angry makes any difference.
TV can be another huge deal for him. When it goes off, no matter how much prior warning he is given, he absolutely goes crackers - shouting, rolling around on the floor, throwing toys etc.
Myself and DH are at the stage where we feel anxious a lot of the time because we’re just anticipating the next thing that will set him off.