Help needed - Dealing with emotions after starting school.

[Sophrosyne1]

My (only just) 4 year old daughter has just started school and, since then, has been very difficult to deal with. She has been having night terrors, tantrums and is very rude & shouty at home. While she has always been very emotional, I'm feeling worried and was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to improve things.

I used to be a teacher and so am very aware of the huge changes she is experiencing (she has been at nursery since she was 5 months old but only ever attended for 3 days a week), however, I feel a bit lost on the other side of the classroom door.

The other issue is that my daughter is particularly small for her age (2nd centile for height & weight) and some of the other children have been mentioning this and trying to pick her up.

Hi Sophros - not sure I have the worldly advice you need but wanted to bump this for you.

I did notice that my ds1 was just like this after starting school last year. His teacher said he was a dream at school but said sometimes they feel a bit overwhelmed in the beginning & play up at home.

It seems alot of the mums were saying the same of their newstarters, regardles of age. I tend to ask how his day has been but give him some space & a bit of quiet time after school. For my ds alot of it is tiredness too. Hope this helps a little ;)

Hi,
There are so many changes happening in their lives and they have so much to take in that I think they are overwhelmed.
With my dc I find that they don't always know how to express exactly what they are feeling and the experiences they are going through and this results in them acting up.

Give your daughter a little time, have some patience ( so much easier said then done!) and a big glass of wine!