My 6 year old son was doing so great in 1st grade. Over the past month his behavior at home and school has just taken a drastic turn for the worse. I received a call from his teacher today about him drawing violent pictures and just generally refusing to do any work lately. He talks to people any kind of way he wants lately also, and it is just getting worse. When we try to talk to him he becomes aggitated or starts to cry uncontrollably. I have an 11 year old step son with ADHD and ODD, and the behavior my 6 year old is exhibiting is the same thing I've gone through with the 11 year old for 2 years now. My six year old lies all the time about things now and it's always someone else's fault when he's in trouble. I just can't imagine that they, not being blood related, would have the same 2 conditions, but I am just at a lose and feel like I am having a breakdown. Can anybody offer any advice?
Well, I took my baby out to dinner Friday night and tried to talk to him but he just wouldn't tell me anything so I didn't push. He did play with the neighbor girl on Saturday, and hasn't been getting in so much trouble at school so far this week....we'll see how it goes.
If your older child is getting significant attention for the behaviors, your son may be imitating them in an attempt to get the same level of attention. It truly sounds like he's angry about something and looking for a way to express it. Call the school and ask to speak with the psychologist or social worker. They will be able to observe your son in the classroom, meet with you, meet with him and help point you in the right direction!
My first thought is he's seeking attention.
Is he possibly jealous over the attention the older one gets? Do you think you are more tense and agitated and yell at him easier because you are stressed from dealing with the older?
have you spent any one on one time with him lately-try that. Maybe during that time you can get him to open up and find out what's wrong.
Sounds more like he's acting out, angry and trying to get his needs met but doesn't know how to tell you.
He could be mimicking the 11 year olds behavior, and acting out aggression from frustration he feels as he is learning it from his step-brother, fairly common. It sounds like he could benefit from therapy.
Perhaps some things here could be of help:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/6/T060100.asp
He sounds angry. Kids dont have the vocabulary to express thier feelings, so it often comes out as aggression. Has somthing happened? It's definately time to start talking to him. Let him know he can tell you things even if someone else told him to keep it a secret. Something is eating this kid up.
I've gone through some of this with my E and she was displaying behaviors that her father displays and he has Asperberger's Syndrome. I have taken her to a behaviorist and we have worked on her having her own behaviors as opposed to mimicking someone else's. We also have done biofeedback and it has helped. There are so many things it could be... are you sure something at school hasn't been happening that he isn't able to express to you? If it were my child I'd seek professional advice. Sometimes kids are made fun of or treated unfairly by peers or teachers ( as I've had this with my 6yr. old just recently) and they just aren't able to express what is going on. Eventually we found out that the teacher had been making comments to her in class and also questioning her about things she shouldn't have been and that she had been doing things unkind... E eventually started telling me, but it had taken awhile. It could also be diet or chemical sensitivity. So many things really. Your doing the right thing by paying attention and seeking help. Wishing you luck.
I would consider taking him to a counselor to talk or play act with him to determine the problem. Maybe someone is bullying him or inappropriately touching him. He may feel like he can't tell you because they have threatened to hurt him or you.
