How is your reception child coping?

[Luna9]

My dd is turning 5 this month; she started reception last September; over the last 2 months we seem to be having meltdowns once or twice per day; when she gets upset about something she just goes on and on an on with the I don't like her; I don't love her thing. I really don't know what to do; I normally look forward to go home but today I have been dreading bed time and stayed late with the hope kids will be sleeping when I get home. When she is happy she is great to have around and very helpful but she is a very sensitive child and have very strong emotions when she gets upset and I am finding it difficult to deal with the meltdowns.

[GiddyOnZackHunt]

I am glad this is a short half term! DS is a social animal and in the thick of all the action. He loves being with his mates every day but he needs at least 11 ,hours sleep a night to even try to keep the show on the road.

[Ginmummy1]

DD is fine with the school work and the routine, and although she sometimes gets a bit unreasonable in evenings due to tiredness, basically handles it well. She’s a November birthday so one of the older ones (though was due in Feb so should have been in the middle of the year). She never naps after school, and goes up to bed at around 7.30pm (she sometimes reads to herself for a few minutes in bed) until 6.45am.

The main thing I’ve noticed is emotional: her favourite place to be is at home with us, and she’s quite clingy about going to activities that she’s previously enjoyed. She would always vote for a night in and a quiet weekend. She used to be much more sociable and confident, but I think it’s a temporary thing caused by the emotional strain of maintaining good behaviour and handling relationships with peers at school all day.

[tryingtogetagrip]

Good question OP! I was coming here to ask the same.

Tiredness is not a big issue. Bedtime is maybe 15 mins earlier than over Christmas holidays, but there is no sign of total exhaustion.

It helps knowing that some of your DCs are using the same language about not being good at stuff or having no friends. I hate to think that it is true, so I hope for all of us it is a little of the drama queen creeping in. I do worry though. There was much more happiness around the house during the holidays. Much less middle of the night waking. Much more willingness to make an effort with things. Now I just get 'I'm too slow at that' (getting dressed), 'I'm not any good at letters' (can you write your name on a birthday card for daddy) 'I'm not very good at this' (trying to follow words when I read). I know a lot of this may just be code for 'I would rather be playing with my new Christmas toys' but I can't help lie awake at night and wonder if school is just an unhappy place

[Luna9]

Thank you for the response; I am glad to hear I am not alone; they are so little and is a big challenge for them starting school; lots of rules and things to learn.

School has no mentioned anything; she is a very sociable girl but also very sensitive and expressive of her emotions and perceptive of other people feelings so I just need to learn to manage that without getting stressed and allow plenty of time in the morning and evening as that's when things escalate.

[Portlypenguin]

we have an emotional exhausted june birthday reception child here....he loves school and has settled well but finds it very tiring. I have beem reassured it will gradually get better! we moved bedtime from 8 ( usually 8.15 really) to 7- 7.15 which has helped.