5 year old lashing out at school.

[Namechangehitting]

My 5 year old is in the last couple of weeks of reception and has started lashing out at school.

She has hit, punched, bit, kicked, pinched and hit again. All in the last two weeks.

On each occasion it is always retaliation for something, I.e not sharing, breaking her stuff, pouring water on her (during water play) etc.

We’ve told her to tell the teacher, we’ve given her examples on how she can resolve conflict calmly and kindly, pointed out that by lashing out she’s now the one in trouble. We’ve taken a toy away, she’s missed out on treats. We’ve tried talking to her, reminding her that this isn’t her, that we know she is a kind girl deep down but it’s still happening.

Does anyone have any advice on what else we can try? And also what you feel the school should be doing to deal with this situation?

Anyone have any advice?

Has anything happened just before this sudden change in behaviour @Namechangehitting? Has she for instance had a cold or a sore throat or has there been any changes at home or school?

Nothing has changed at home but she was feeling unwell as this all started. It began with a sore throat and then she had an increased temperature but not a fever.

To be honest she is still coughing at night and complaining that she feels sick every morning but she hasn’t been sick at all.

I wondered if this was the reason and mentioned it to her teacher but the look I got suggested that I was being one of them mums!

Have you tried taking a course on challenging behaviours? I had a similar issue and took a course on it and it really helped me learn, gain knowledge and implement positive behaviours. I’m glad I did it before it got to bad. Pop me a message if you would like to discuss further

I woukd take her back to the GO and ask them to check her ears, throat and chest. It sounds as though she may still be unwell.

Very occasionally DC can develop PANDAS, it’s rare and easily cured but it might worth reading up on what it is.

@Caybasitasha was it similar with your child that it randomly started? This is so out of character for her, we’ve never been pulled up on her behaviour like this before.

@BunnyRuddington thanks for the link.

After you asked the question about sore throat this morning, I googled the connection and have been reading up on Pandas. I ruled it out initially as I don’t think she has been ill enough to have had strep. But it keeps playing on my mind, particularly as she had a really red neck at one point and the chemist said he thought it was viral, but to be cautious of it getting worse as it could be scarlet fever.

I’ve ordered a home strep kit so will see what that comes back with in the morning. I will then decide where to go from there.