Stroppy 5 Year Old

[LillyBugg]

He has just started school in September so I'm well aware that he is tired. But I'm just not sure how to tackle this and feel a bit out of my depth. I was the first of friends and family to have children so feel like I'm just winging it all the time!

He is usually lovely, quite a calm and placid child. But lately when things don't go his way, or I ask him to do something I get growling, foot stamping, hiding in corners, 'ohhhhh', 'it's not fair' and the more extreme, he hits himself in the head or thumps his own leg. This can be over a Lego model coming apart, his 2yo brother 'ignoring' him, or even as simple as asking him to sit at the table for breakfast. It's becoming very wearing and I just don't know how to deal with it.

Anyone please?

We've just had moaning and groaning over breakfast and 'where's my bacon?' and a claim that he doesn't know when to say please and thank you

I'm so very glad to hear someone else is having this issue too! My DS is 5, and started reception in September. I feel he may have been possessed by some sort of devil! Everything is an argument, right down to which foot his sock goes on, and the attitude! Jews! I've put it down to tiredness really, but my God! I sympathise OP. Hopefully the tiredness and grumpiness should get better as they get used to school, I hope so anyway!

Thanks Book. It's exhausting isn't it. I really feel you about the 'which foot does the sock go on'. Eurgh it's all so trivial and draining.

My dd was like a girl possessed when she started school.

Bedtimes had to be incredibly early - even if they didn’t seem tired - because she was truly exhausted and wiped.

I don’t think it was normal tiredness - it’s the challenge of being switched on all day and having to listen all the time. Like going to a working training course but weeks at a time.

Mine were much better in the second half of the school year. I made sure that they did no after school clubs at all, minimal play dates and minimal late nights. Even now in year 3, my youngest struggles a bit with the start of term.

My soon to be 5 year old started reception in September too and I felt I had ‘lost’ my loving kind calm boy because of things similar to this. I’ve found a few early nights and limiting his time on his ipad( which was limited anyway) has really improved his behaviour.
I also found that after school I was kinda interrogating him by asking millions of questions desperate to know if he had a good day, what he’s been doing , who’s his played with etc and that was a trigger for some of his outburst so I only kind of ask 1 or 2 now and space them out over the evening. Xx

He is in bed by 7, often 6.45 most evenings and he wakes at about 6.45am. So pretty much 12 hours a night. We only have swimming after school one evening, which I'm not willing to compromise on. I wouldn't say his screen time is excessive but this is definitely something to bear in mind.

I'm glad I'm not the only one in this situation, even if that does make me sad for everyone else as well!

@LillyBugg it’s probably just him adjusting to the new rules , emotions and other stuff with school and probably influence of some of the other children at school. iPad wise we totally cut that out in the morning because it was a nightmare to get him
To eat breakfast or want to get dressed etc. Perseverance and deep breaths to get you through xxxx

Ha ha lots of deep breaths!! We also cut out the iPad before school after week one of disasters. So it's an after school chill out activity now.

My DS only turned 4 at the beginning of August and started reception in September. Although I feel for every parent going through this, it is a MASSIVE comfort to know I'm not alone

I keep having to remind myself that this is all such a big transition, especially him going from 2 and a half days at school nursery to now 5 full days

Its exhausting,sleep routine has buggered up an has effected my sleeping too.

Can't wait for this to all settle down again

School and tiredness has changed my four year old too. She is so tired and angry after school. It's actually sad to see. I don't think my DD is emotionally ready at all for school. She liked going for a month then the last week she cries everyday about going back. She's happy in class but they say she's abit of a loner and likes being in the art section. They've even put a limit on her and that's affected her. She comes homes hits me and cries. I don't have any answers. I think it will just change again as they adapt more to school etc. I'm worried my DD will never get relaxed and just be bubbly again though. I don't feel she is the best at being in social situations. I think she comes out of school and just lashes out after behaving all-day xx

Can I revive this please??

I completely understand that school is hard and they are tired but I need some strategies on how to deal with the moaning and complaining, the foot stamping, the 'ohhhhhh' and so on and so forth. All ideas welcome.

I started a star chart at the weekend for the basics, getting dressed, teeth brushed, shoes on, shoes away etc. It has helped but hasn't really prevented the moaning and he even moans that he has to put the bloody star on the chart