why is year 3 described as a "sensitive" year?

[Orinoco]

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dd1 found settling into year 3 really really hard - in fact she diddnt really get going until midway through the spring term and then she got shingles poor lamb.

glad to report that year 4 seems much better

(although she is moody but is always moody so I am used to it - also there does seem to be more bitchy girl crap going down but nothing too horrendous)

I've found my 8yo and 7yo dds (in yr 4 and yr 3 now) have been happier in yr3 - less stroppy or stressed than before, and had fewer problems with friends.

dd2 is much happier than in yr2, I blame the SATS preparation for a lot of that though.

Perhaps they're just late developers?

I had a conversation with a child psycologist who said that age 7/8 is an important development stage. A knock in confidence from friends/teachers can stay with a child for years.

"I remember talking to dd1's head teacher when she was in year 3 (dd1, not the HT ) and she said that it's at that age that the girls in particular can start falling in and out of friendships, then it can start to get nasty, ganging up on others etc".

Unfortunately I agree with this, one of DD's best friend's has turned on her and had her in tears for 2 days running by having a go at her and telling lies about her, I had to inform the school in the end and the girls in the class were given a talking to about snitching and making up lies about others. I did wonder if because its a big jump from infants to juniors and some children are unsettled, and also because they are at the age now where friendships are established and I have noticed that now there seems to be groups of 3's and thats why friends are falling out with the 2's company 3's a crowd scenarios.

Like Fennel, I must confess to a Y3er who's having a total whale of a time. New teacher she adores, challenging work she's finding interesting, one or two fabulous New Best Mates as well as her gang from last year - what's not to like?

dd1 hated having to change playground when she moved to year 3. She said the children were too rough, she kept getting knocked over by the bigger children, hit by footballs etc. She also had lots of friendship problems, and so did her other children in her class.

dd1 found Y3 difficult - she struggled to settle in and had a bit of a slump academically - she went from being a real high-flyer to getting pretty average grades and a so-so report at the end of Y3. I'm not sure I can pin it down to anything in particular... She was also a bit of a PITA at home IIRC

Anyway, she really picked up again in Y4 and got very good grades, is now having a fab time in Y5 and is generally pleasant, studious and responsible.

My dd seems happier in Yr 3 than last year. Classes have swapped, so new friendships have been made. The work is more interesting apparently, and to quote her 'it is more like going to a club than going to school'.
I SO hope this enthusiasm and happiness will last...

For those whose children are having a tough time - I do think the work is ramped up a bit and they are certainly expected to be more independent which can be tricky to adjust to.

My dd was not very happy in Yr 2 - felt quite isolated and was not tuned in to the work or teacher at all, so I know how deflating it is as a parent to watch...

Year 4 was the tough year for dd but things seem more settled now in year 5.