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Four year old showing signs of much anxiety - please help!

3 replies

missytabitha · 21/10/2011 22:23

My four and a half year old son has up until starting school been a very strong, forthright, opinionated and confident little boy. Not the easiset child to parent but lovely and not a worry at all. Since starting a small, local school that I personally am very happy last month with he has developed some troubling anxieties that the school have noticed and picked up. One is around the fear that a plane is going to come down and hit him or drop bombs on him (we see many planes overhead including military sometimes). Apparantly he has to often run inside if he sees a plane and I have witnessed this with him too when at a local playground. The second fear is around the police which doesnt make any sense at all as we as a family speak highly of police and have police friends and contacts.

He has settled reasonably well at school but there are still tears some mornings and he says he doesnt like some aspects of school. My instinct tells me these new anxieties which have come out of the blue and knocked me for six is some kind of shool related anxiety.

While not the perfect parent (who is?) I have alwasy been very careful what he watches on TV (no news, adult programmes in background etc) and also what I say about things. To me planes are positive, remind me of holidays etc and I say this to him daily. I have suffered with anxiety myself in the past but am now much better and I worry I have passed this on to him in some way either heritary or other.

I would love some re-assurrance or advice what to do next and how to handle this as it is really worrying me. At the moment I am considering going our family doctor (without DS1) to talk it through but am I overreacting?

OP posts:
MumblingAndBloodyRagDoll · 22/10/2011 08:40

Many DC go through similar....it's a massive change for them. My own DD hadall kinds of anxieties in reception and year one but has levelled out now she is 7.

the police thing, it's possile some child or even teahing assistant has talked some rubbish about the police taking naughty children away...(my DD who is 3 had this at nursery)

The plane thing again....some chld could have said someting.
If i were you I would book into one of those experience days where you get to see light aircraft or even go in one.

If that's not possible why not have a trip too the airport to see the planes take off?

I think you are worrying too much....dont question hom or show worry....he will pick up on it.

YommyMommy · 16/01/2012 12:31

Hi ladies, was just reading the posts and feel relieved by the fact that I'm not the only one going through crying/anxiety with my DS over school.

First few weeks were brilliant, he was really happy loved going, etc. then just before the Christmas holidays it all changed Sad crying every day going in and and just before he was due to go back after Christmas the tears were at night time too. We have tried to speak to him, but he just says he misses us Sad he seems to b getting himself pretty worked up about it all.

He is just in P1 so we are hoping that it's just trying to get used to everything now that the excitement has worn off??

It's really hard to know what to do or say? Walk away leaving him crying, etc. the teacher just ignores it and says 'okay let's go to you seat'. Should we ignore it too??

JuliaScurr · 16/01/2012 12:38

youngminds.co.uk were very helpful when dd had similar problems

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