Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

My 5 year old is so angry and it's worrying me

6 replies

Rosebud1302 · 25/07/2024 20:03

I posted a while ago about my son and how easily frustrated he gets over what most people would call "little things" (I appreciate for him they aren't little but they are in the grand scheme of things).

We still struggle with this but recently his anger is really concerning me. A few examples:

  • Playing with his magnetic blocks. One single block falls over. He smashes it all down, throws them (not hard or far but not the point). Stomps over saying it's all rubbish. All while growling (I don't know how else to explain it. Like a frustrated noise).
  • His friend is over for a playdate. Anytime friend doesn't do things quite how he wants he is moaning saying "no that's not how you do it!!" To be fair he actually controlled himself quite well for him but still. Why does he get so stroppy.
  • Bedtime. He is bouncing on the bed instead of listening to the story being read by his dad. Dad very politely says "are you going to listen so you know what is going on?" Cue my son getting in his face and making that awful growling noise again right in his face. Throwing himself down slamming his fists. By the point I'm afraid we were fed up and not tolerating being growled at right in the face so we ended the story and he went to bed.

This is a few examples. But it's really concerning me. Why is a 5 year old this angry? He isn't like this at all at school. From all the times I've seen him with his friends I have never seen a friend get so angry and frustrated the way my son does. Nothing has changed in his life. He is an only child, stable family. No shouting from us as parents. We are a happy family. Go for lots of days out. When he isn't angry he is honestly delightful. Cuddly, funny, loving. Well behaved out and about. It is the anger and frustration that is really bothering us.

So sorry for the long message. I hope to be told I'm overreacting and kids can be like this. But I'm not sure I am. Any words of wisdom or advice much appreciated.

Thank you.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Rosebud1302 · 25/07/2024 22:36

Hopeful bump

OP posts:
MixieMatchie · 25/07/2024 22:45

I think this is within the realms of normal. My DC (same age) can be like this after having been a perfect angel all day at school, play dates, holiday club etc. I think it's mainly tiredness and being free to act out, vent and push boundaries in a safe place. You say he's not like that at school (or out and about) - nor is mine - but at school they are learning to deal with so much without realising it; how to fit into a structure, deal with authority figures, rules and peer dynamics. Same for outings - they are learning so much about the world all the time, and always under adult supervision. All that's got to be exhausting for a young mind, even if they are also having fun and developing in all the right ways. I think it's normal that after a year of Reception, they are all being little horrors at home while they can! Does that make sense?

RappersNeedChapstick · 26/07/2024 09:11

@Rosebud1302 have you heard of the book The Explosive Childd*? It might be worth giving that one a read.

If he's so easily frustrated at home I wonder if his speech and language is quite where it should be? Our DD had SLT issues but you'd never guess if you didn't know her really well and it often causes a meltdown. How does he do on this simple SLT 5 year progress checkerr*?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Rosebud1302 · 26/07/2024 09:44

@RappersNeedChapstick thank you I will have a look at that book. He was a tad slow to get started talking but now I would absolutely say he is where he is expected to be. I just did the checker and answered yes for everything. So not sure it's lack of communication it just seems he is so quick to anger and has no resilience to things going wrong.

@MixieMatchie thank you for sharing. I am glad to hear another child behaving similar. I think it's so easy to compare to his friends and peers (I know I know I shouldn't but I can't help it in this case) that it worries me and I think there is something wrong!!!

OP posts:
MixieMatchie · 26/07/2024 09:58

@Rosebud1302 remember you're not seeing his friends and peers when they're at home with just mum and dad. My child's behaviour often compares favourably to others when in company, and I'm sure there are times when other parents have gone home thinking "why can't my child behave more like MixieMatchie's child?". But they are just 5, and resilience and patience will be patchy for some time.

Rosebud1302 · 26/07/2024 10:30

@MixieMatchie thank you. You're absolutely right. I guess because mine also does it in company haha that's why I go to myself "why didn't so-and-so get annoyed and why does my son". But you're so right and I need to remember I am seeing a snapshot.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page