DS Behaviour steadily descending - what to do now?

[farfalle]

Help please. Our DS's behaviour seems to be rapidly descending into the depths and I can't see any way of bringing it back to our norm. He's 6 and over the weekend, despite spending time with him, advising etc, he still seemed to want to work in the opposite direction and have the last word on everything. He is also showing less and less respect for things and people and I really don't know how to encourage a sense of respect within him. It's been fine - in a sense - while at home but this afternoon it overflowed into the playground and I'm now completely at a loss. Is the behaviour "normal" or am I living with a complete delinquent? Advice please/

It sounds remarkably similar to my DS (7) who can be perfectly lovely but at other times he will argue and rebel continuously.

What does hit home with him, if anything?

only my DS (6) seems to kick harder and harder against 'discipline' but caves completely to the 'I'm so disappointed in you' approach...

Farfalle, no advice but my 7yo DS is exactly the same. Drives me insane and nothing works.

The only thing that hit this afternoon once home from school was seeing me in tears as it was both anger and frustration on my part. Also embarrasment if truth be told as I waited til I got back to the car before I lost the plot but he had already let rip in the playground. Not entirely practical for me to be dissolving into tears at every incident though.

"I'm so disappointed....." is a milder (and less messy) version of Mummy in tears - for my DS at least.

What does his teacher say about his behaviour at school?

Teacher is fairly non-commital as has hardly been there in the last few months. We have had a string of supply teachers even though " we assure all parents that there is no disruption to your child's education." As a result, nobody really seems to know DS and certainly doesn't know what turns him off or on.