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Finding my 4 year olds behaviour really challenging

1 reply

floams66 · 26/02/2025 15:43

My 4.5 year old is in reception. She is quite shy and quiet in class but at home she is the opposite. Over the last few months I have started to find her behaviour so challenging, particularly after school but at all times really. She is loving, but can also push and kick her younger sibling, and this morning she bit them. Sometimes she shouts, and she isnt great at listening. I have tried talking to her, praising her for positive behaviour, time out etc. I feel out of my depth though and am worried I am handling it wrongly and making it worse or that there is an underlying issue so would really appreciate any advice anyone has. I know she's suddenly got lots of boundaries at school so is almost having a release outside of school but this seems extreme. I plan to try a sticker chart this evening although in the past incentives haven't made much difference. Thank you.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
MrsRobinsonAlphaCentauri · 05/03/2025 09:54

OP, I'm sorry that really tough!

Sounds like my son, but the opposite way round he's awful at school, but fine with siblings at home, play dates with friends.

I think holding firm boundaries and reserving time out for things like biting and intentionally hurting siblings.

When we have issues at school, if it's minor I sometimes let it slide so he doesn't feel got at all the time. And hold firm hard boundaries for more serious offences.

I don't know if this is an issue with your daughter, but for us all his bad behaviour happened in the playground, and when provision was made to take him out of the playground things improved hugely.

So it may be worth asking the school if there is something she struggles with especially there that might be causing her to bottle up then blow up!

Sorry that I don't have any real advice atop of what you are already doing, but know there is solidarity and this sort of thing is normal, if my friends are anything to go by!

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