What's going on

[igivein]

DS started reception 3 weeks ago. Before that he'd been in my workplace nursery from six months and always got on well, happy to go etc.

Three weeks into 'big school' and he's turning into the spawn of Satan!

We've had attitude and backchat at home, he told me his teacher said he's a bit too handy with his hands, I asked him if he'd hit someone and he told me he had, and he'd been told off.

Then yesterday he's hit a little girl who's been his special friend since day one - but he said it didn't matter because he'd said he was sorry!

Is this a 'this too shall pass' because he's unsettled by starting school, or should I be getting concerned?

Yes. My sweet little DD has been kidnapped and been replaced by an evil monster that happens to look the same. WE get moans about everything, she is seemingly unable to manage simple tasks that she has been able to do for agggggesssss, tells me I am "silly" at every possible opportunity and then dissolves into tears when I dare to say that her behaviour might not be entirely appropriate.

I am putting it down to tiredness, having too much going on in her overworked little head plus adjusting to being a "big girl". And she used to do school hours at the attached school nursery, I've been really shocked how much of a change she has found it.

Yes its a this too shall pass, I suspect.

Big school is a massive adjustment socially and it sounds like your DS is just testing the boundaries. If you are worried still in a few weeks have a chat with his Reception teacher, I am sure you'll find they are quite used to it and its normal.

The playground especially is a whole new big wide world that takes a massive adjustment. Give him time, support and lots of encouragement.

At least you're just silly Redsky - apparently I'm a 'poo'!

Totally normal I'm afraid, I've always put it down to a combination of being knackered and overwhelmed. It will get better.

Interestingly, my DD was turning 6 when she started school here in Australia and we had none of the personality change stuff unlike, my boys who both started much younger in the UK. This was despite her gong full time from day one and a school day of 8-4 with travel.

It passes! My son has just gone into yr1 and we had this for at least the first half term when he started reception. He also came back after his first day back this year with the attitude of a mini teenager but that too passed. I felt like an extremely mean mummy for the first week or so as I stomped on his inappropriate and rude behaviour from a skyscaperesque height. It certainly worked though and he's back to my usual boy now and only behaving rudely and inappropriately the more normal 50% of the time!

Thank goodness for that! I feel like the evil mummy from hell telling him off - he's always been such a sweetie.
Roll on a return to some semblance of normality

Interesting point SunnyD, it tends to confirm my suspicions that we send them to school too early. Especially since if DS had been born 3 days later he wouldn't have been starting until next September.