Why do children misbehave when they are tired?

[Ceebee74]

Just wondered - DS1 turns into a little horror when he is tired - mostly he is well-behaved.

Why do they not just 'flop' onto the sofa like adults? Why do they insist on getting themselves more and more worked up and start being naughty?

Adults don't flop on the sofa though. They lose their tempers and drive badly and start fights and behave irrationally and get into 'issues' at work and lose all perspective. Then they flop on the sofa (and cry).

I think they just lose their sense of proportion about things - my DC argue about the most ridiculous things when they are tired, this annoys me, I get tetchy, they get more annoyed and do things to annoy me more etc etc.

Also they really do just seem to 'forget' how to behave normally - they really become physically 'random' (at least mine do!)

Isn't it when they are overtired?

I find everything more stressful when I am tired. I find it hard to think straight and deal with simple requests.

i throw tantrums when i'm tired too.

I read somewhere that it's to do with brain circuits not being fully wired up. Rats do the same crazy hyperactive thing apparently.

You said it so much better than me ahundredtimes

Interesting isn't it?

My dc are also very hard work when they are hungry. And so am I! Very very snappish and irrational and grumpy and I find it takes an age to make a sandwich when I am starving hungry. I think you brain just doesn't do what its supposed to do so well.

ds gets upset so easily when he is tired ... do you let your dcs get away with stuff to keep the peace when they are like this? I was watching tv the other day and there was an animal documentary on where a cat had kittens and I found myself thinking how lucky she was as her dks just went to sleep when they were tired ... they didnt whinge or moan for ages before hand!

I think Normasnorks has hit the nail on the head - DS1 becomes completely random - almost as if he doesn't know what to do with his arms and legs etc and has no control over them.

I guess it is just me who flops on the sofa when I am tired then

I actually flop on the sofa full stop. I do tantrum when hungry though.

ceebee

my dp is a nightmare when he is hungry .. he has no control over his emotions and gets soooo grumpy. My first question if he snaps at me is to ask when he last ate

DH feeds me when he notices me getting stroppy

It's not just toddlers

I'm like a bear with a sore head when I'm tired and can barely function the normal way.

If the brain doesn't get rest then it struggles to keep the body and mind functioning properly and therefore meltdown! regardless of whether it's an adult or child.

Erm, everyone's horrible when tired and/or hungry. It's just that children manifest the horribleness a bit more directly.

I get horrible when tired/hungry. So do my Dad and brothers. So does DS1 but not DS2 so much.
It's just one of those things. I can also get a little 'hyper' when tired and my legs go a little twitchy. Same for children I suppose.

Both DS and myself stroppy almost every afternoon as 2 hourly wakings at night for months with DD2 leave me knackered. DS still wakes up once and DH has to go in with him. DS Very naughty with DD and will not stay on naughty step at all.

Also DS keeps saying 'so sorry to shout at you' meaning he wants an apology, (which he gets with hugs and kisses) but won't change his own behaviour.

DS doesn't eat a lot so these threads very interesting - thanks