I know children are really tired at the start of school, and my DS has just started reception, having not been at nursery for more than one day a week since March, so I was fully expecting him to be tired.
He started full time school on the 3rd of September and has been straight in ever since so of course it's a shock to the system. He seems to like school, he's always happy coming out and always happy to go in.
The last week or two though he has been SO grumpy, stroppy and just really angry. He's been through "naughty" phases before but since turning 4 he's been much easier and just more reasonable. Whereas now it feels like he's being naughty for the sake of it, doing things he knows wind us up, shouting all the time eg we ask what he wants for breakfast and he shouts at us, and being unkind to others eg we had a play date with a friend on the weekend, and DS was full of "you're NOT my best friend any more" every time he didn't get his way, and when they were both building in the sandpit, he just went and stamped on his friend's castle, for no reason.
He's been going to bed early, he sleeps a solid 12-12.5 hours, and after school he just watches TV and chills out, dinner then early bedtime with stories.
I don't quite know how best to handle his behaviour as I want to still enforce boundaries/consequences but also cutting him some slack as he's going through a lot mentally. DH is really strict with him which I find doesn't help, he's quick to tell him off for little things when I think it would be easier to pick his battles (although I've been criticised on here for not being too strict compared with my DH!).
Any advice of anyone who has experienced similar would be appreciated!