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.

Turning 4 (and into the devil)

2 replies

Fireside10 · 20/07/2025 20:56

My DS is 4 in a few weeks and his behaviour has completely blown up, I no longer feel I can cope and am at absolute breaking point.

He's summer born so will be starting school this September, thankfully he has got into a lovely primary, where he currently attends the pre school. He's been going there with a friend since Feb and seems to enjoy it. The reason he started mid term was due to his private nursery going bust with the new government funding. (I'm adding the back ground as it's very likely linked). He normally really struggles with change but all in all has coped really well.

This last month has been awful, he's had some sensory issues with clothing since he was around 1.5. Things like he won't wear buttons, zip, elasticated waists etc. Everything must be flat, seamless and with a tighter fit. Whilst frustrating I've tried to help him, hoping he will grow out of it eventually. We're now at a point where getting him in more than underwear is impossible. Things I tried are: providing him 2 choices, giving him free reign of whatever to wear, giving him time limits then putting him in something if he hasn't done it first, bribes, loosing patience and shouting (obviously not proud of that one.) It was so bad last week I had to ask his grandparents to have him last week for a day rather than pre school as I had an exam.

The above is all accompanied with hitting/biting/strangling/kicking from him if you try put clothes on. He's never been violent previously with us or other children/adults. Alongside this he talks constantly over everyone all day. He's always been chatty but currently it's none stop, he doesn't wait for responses and doesn't seem to be aware of others talking, so doesn't follow instructions anymore.

Im getting to the point of wondering if there is something deeper going on. He's still so young and whilst his demeanour hides it well he is a sensitive boy so i dont want to start getting to early conclusions about a problem that's not there, but I'm at a complete loss of how to support/enforce some rules with him.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Springadorable · 20/07/2025 21:05

The sensory issues make me think more investigations would be a good idea. My boy is summer born and also starting reception in September, and we are doing part time before compulsory school age (the term after the turn five). So much development happens between a September born and a summer born, I want my child to have time to decompress. Is that an option?

Somehowgirl · 20/07/2025 21:20

The non stop talking at this age is typical. They really take a huge leap in language development and their brains are firing like crazy. But the hitting, biting and strangling is not on. You must be having a hell of a time with him. School already sounds crazy to me as we’re in Scotland where he wouldn’t start until next year. Can you defer?

For flat waistbands I highly recommend Lindex. Their jogging bottoms and leggings have lovely flat waistbands that aren’t thick and gathered like most.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page