DS was always a really friendly, polite, good natured child who got on well with others. Recently though he’s begun snatching and being really nouty with other kids, finding it funny when they get hurt or he does something mean to them.
He’s an only child and his Dad’s CEV, so he’s been pretty isolated throughout the pandemic unfortunately. This likely played a huge part, but his behaviour suddenly changed to this a few weeks ago so I’m baffled as to what the immediate trigger could be? (I go everywhere with him so there’s been no opportunity for abuse).
I’ve tried speaking to him about how mean his behaviour is and he seems completely aware of how he’s making other kids feel, as he says that he’d cry if it happened to him. He just says that he likes to be mean and cries when I tell him that we should be nice to people or they wont be nice to us. He’s also become very emotional, bursting into tears at every minor inconvenience and has started throwing and kicking his toys for the first time.
Is this normal? A phase that he’ll grow out of? A common reaction to something being wrong in his life?
I know it’s ridiculous but I’m so worried that this is just his personality from now on. He starts school in September and I don’t know whether that will help or make things 10x worse!
Please reassure me that my child will develop real empathy soon😅