Help me understand what is going on w 6y/o Ds?

[KyleAnn]

I will try to keep this as short as possible...I am hoping maybe someone will have some insight as to what might be going on with my Ds...

Ds has always been a great kid, still is...he is very sensitive/emotional/empathetic. Big snuggler/lovebug, bright, talkative, does well in school academically & socially.
He has a fantastic imagination and plays with everything, doesn't watch too much tv and only certain shows....so really, no complaints...lol

Until-over the last several months he has, as my dh puts it, become a spaz. Every little thing that doesn't go his way just sets him off, from 0-60 in seconds. Example, he was working on his homework, I corrected a spelling error-he throws the pencil, says how he "hates" this or how it's so "stupid", stomps off. It isn't school related, he does this with EVERYTHING. Games, sports, toys, even conversations if we say something he doesn't want to hear.

It is so frustrating and we are just at a loss here about what to do, if anything. Both dh and I have oogles of patience, so this isn't something he is imitating from us, we really don't fight or even raise our voices. Other than starting school this past September there have been no life changes for him.

We want to help him learn to control his emotions but cannot understand what is setting him off. This happens multiple times a day, we try to calmy talk to him but this only makes him more upset. Lately he is the King of stomping off and slamming his bedroom door. Seriously, it reminds me of my brothers as teenagers, all moody and mad at the world.

Does anyone have any experience or thoughts on this? At this point I will take anything you've got, we're desperate.
Could this be related to something obvious that we're missing? Some type of food allergy? Ds and I are vegetarians, but have had no diet changes at all...he eats healthy, no junk foods...I would have no idea where to start w/allergies...

I apologize that this turned so long, if anyone has any thoughts or comments I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

[meemee]

yup. it is what i call first stage teenagerhood.

hormones rage. emotions all out of wack. they are trying to figure out what to make of it.

remember you can guide him and help him, but give him slack with trying to control his emotions. so dont expect him to obey.

its a phase. he will grow out of it.

yup i have a moody and mad 6 year old too. somedays apparently its 'mama speaks all the wrong things day'. apparently on those days i just dont understand her, get what she says - as she tells me crying and totally frustrated. poor child.

just do your best. but also understand this is him trying to figure it out too. think of it as back to 2 years old and trying to figure out how to handle emotions. dont hold him to it. but he is older than two and will listen and pay attention to what you say. give him the time to do it.

also i have increased the physical outdoor time for dd. i find that helps her a lot.

and as usual make sure the kiddie rule still apply - enough food, enough rest, enough play.

here is my bible of childhood. explains the ages v. v. well. but remember its outdated so the advice might not be upto par now.
http://www.amazon.com/Your-Six-Year-.../dp/0440506743

[Alyantavid]

Its a 6 year old thing I think. Mine was like that, still is to a certain extent and he turned 7 a few months ago.

The pp had great advice.

[becoming]

I do think this is a fairly normal change in behavior around the age of 6, but I would definitely talk to him during a calm moment when he's in a good mood and see if there might be anything going on at school that's upsetting him. I might even ask his teacher if she's noticed any change in behavior or anything happening at school that might be affecting his behavior negatively.

[VeganMamaRed]

My daughter definetly had a change in her emotions when she hit six. She doesn't get angry but she does cry a lot more than she used to. She is very sensitive these days and gets her feelings hurt easily and gets upset about random things that I would never think of. The other day I found her crying because Winne the Pooh was in a fight with the other hundred acre wood characters on a movie she was watching and she felt bad for him becasue he looked lonely.

From talking to different people about it, it would appear to be a six year old thing.

[KyleAnn]

Thank you sweet ladies, for your responses.

meemee-thank you so much for your post, it is very helpful and makes me feel so much better. I definitely will take your advice.

This morning he wanted to watch cartoons before school (something we do not do here), and when I explained no he got upset, yelled "Fine-I guess you just don't love me" and stomped off. Sigh-I did talk to him about it about 10 minutes later after he calmed down...I guess we will continue to ride it out.

Hugs & thanks!