My 6 year old (almost 7 year old) has developed a huge temper. When he isn't screaming at us, squeezing or stomping his feet he is sooking . He has recently started having accidents and wetting himself too (there's a toilet in the next room but he doesn't bother going).
Due to.hus behaviour I've taken technology away from him. Tonight I found he has weed on the carpet. I'm at a loss what to do. He hasn't done this since he was 4.
I've tried asking him what a going on and he keeps saying he is having bad dreams (another reason technology was banned). I think though it's just an excuse. Any ideas on how to handle him? I'm at the end of my teather.
Help my 6 year old is driving me bonkers
Help my 6 year old is driving me bonkers
Posted in:
Behaviour
11 Replies
Toilet training 101. Take him to the toilet every hour or so. It’s hard to pee yourself when your bladder is empty. Praise the shit out of him when he uses the toilet.
Take him to the doctor. I have nightmares when I’m feeling unwell, and I generally get grumpy and shitty.
Ignore the sooking. It’s annoying but he will learn it doesn’t get him anywhere.
I’d also be asking my GP for a referral to a peadiatrician and psychologist, it may turn out to be a phase that he grows out of, but you can’t take time back and you might find some really good help.
I don't want to leap to huge conclusions here but is it possible he's been sexually abused or assaulted? The mood swings, dreams, suddenly soiling himself - it could be related to something nasty happening to him. Don't punish him for it. He's acting out to be heard in some way.
He is with me all the time (except for at school). No he hasn't been!
What about bullying/stuff happening at school? I know sooking/whinging is fairly normal, but toilet regression makes me think something more serious. Either way, I'd be exploring every avenue.
Things can happen at school so don’t dismiss anything. Not saying that has happened but a child psychologist can help him express himself in ways the school can’t. They are fantastic with kids and getting their emotions and worries out
He may be with you all the time, but at school? He is not. At one point during my children’s school it had been brough to my attention that a child had be abusing other children in bathrooms etc children in his own year and below. Toilet regression is usually linked to a significant incident in your life it’s not just something that happens without a reason. I urge you to look into it. Not necessarily abuse either sexual or physical but bullying, death in the family, big change in circumstances for them. It could even be something medical? Like a UTI.
Sounds like he's definitely having some emotional issues. Its impossible for a kid that young to know and articulate to you be what it is. It comes out as emotions. And symptoms. Exactly what you're seeing.
Have you had him checked for a UTI?
That would be my first port of call, they can make you irritable too.
Then I would look into what’s happening at school.
Thanks I'll check for UTI. We have had a big talk and he's happy at home and school. He is very difiant. Yesterday (I think out of anger) he peed on carpet on purpose. School have him in a program to learn how to deal and express his emotions better
Take him to a professional, the school can only do so much but a child psychologist is excellent. I took my son and it worked wonders. He had so much more going on in his little head than we could ever have thought. My son has no technology at all, I think it adds to their issues and they hide away from it with technology. What might be nothing to us, could be something so big to them. It’s so hard for kids to understand and express what they are going through.
You need to get him into a child
Psychologist. You can get a referral from your dr and have 10
Visits.it will be the best thing for him and they can help with ways for him to deal with what is going on. Poor kid.