A bit strange but thought I’d I’d see if anyone out there has experienced similar. 6 year old DD, lovely child and very sensitive in nature. Our family is not overly strict (although we do try and instil some rule based discipline eg if you spill something then you have to clean it up etc) but since started school DD is obsessed with rules and not breaking them…so much so that it curtails her enjoyment of things eg we were at the park yesterday and she was desperate to climb on a climbing frame which had a 7 on it suggested for kids over 7. Now she is a very competent climber and is a month away from her 7th birthday but she refused to climb it as she is not yet 7 (despite there being much younger kids on it). She was quite upset and I told her she should just go on it and it was fine but she was scared of getting into trouble. I asked who she thought would tell her off and she couldn’t answer? No amount of coaxing could get it her on it and she was gutted…said she wished she was old enough to go on it etc.
This is just an example but things like this happen all the time. She is always asking “is this allowed?” “Will I get into trouble if I do this .
We are pretty easygoing and don’t go in for big ‘punishments’ in a big way…always give a warning and second chance before we take action so I’m baffled why she has this terrible fear of breaking rules?
Anyone else? Is it just a phase? It’s been going on about 6 months. Im worried she is going to live her life in fear and miss out on things she would enjoy.
I don’t think the school is over the top from a discipline perspective and she loves school. I may speak to her teacher next year if it persists but wondering if it is just inbuilt into her behavioural DNA. How do I get her to chill out a bit and enjoy life? She is constantly worried about breaking rules?