Hi everyone. My DS is just about to turn 5 and is a really nice little kid in most ways. But he has always been prone to crying at the drop of the hat when things don't go his way. I thought it was something he would gradually grow out of, but it doesn't seem to be the case - in fact he seems to be getting worse / less able to deal with life's knocks and disappointments.
His teachers (he's in Reception) have commented on him being "a bit oversensitive" and one or two of his friends at school seem to enjoy winding him up and making him cry. It makes him seem very babyish and pathetic, and to be honest I find it a bit embarrassing.
I'm at a loss as to what causes it, or what I should be doing about it? I don't know whether he's genuinely heartbroken when someone else gets a toy he wanted, or whether it is a form of manipulation. I've been quite careful to avoid giving in to crying, but I guess it does succeed in getting him some attention, although it is usually the very negative sort.
I think I'm a fairly thoughtful parent (most of the time) but this behaviour really winds me up - it's so completely inappropriate to be dissolving in tears at every little thing! So I lurch from being sympathetic, to irritated, to yelling at him to stop crying.. and then back to sympathetic! I've even told him to stop being such a 'cry baby' at times, which didn't feel very constructive. Not very consistent or helpful, I know.
Any advice very gratefully received!