My 6 year old thinks he was "born without a conscience."

[darien]

He is in kindergarten, and having problems.  Academically, no worries.  Behaviorally and socially, he is having issues, enough that the school wanted to have him evaluated (we're in the middle of that).

He exhibits some sensory-seeking behaviors, and other sensory-avoiding behaviors.  For example, he loves to touch people, but doesn't always want to be touched back.  He hums and sings to himself.  Sometimes he's noisy, silly, and hyper because he's having a "sensory moment," sometimes because he's an opinionated little cuss who finds kindergarten activities "boring," and sometimes because he loves to explore new ways to get his classmates' attention.

All in all, he can be a huge thorn in his teachers' side.

I knew, despite his usual "I don't care" attitude, that he does care.  He was a perfect little student for the first half of preK, then went "haywire."  One night, he sobbed for an hour because he used to be a "good person," but that he couldn't keep it up, because it was "too hard."

I had a talk with him this weekend about his behavior at school, and basically ended by asking him if he would try harder.  He agreed, "I will, Mommy, but it's improbable, because I was born without a conscience."

He got that concept from a "character education" lesson at school!  The teacher (not his Kindy teacher) usually has better judgment.  She's definitely getting a piece of my mind next time I see her!

We continued our talk, and I think I convinced him that being impulsive, high-strung, stubborn, or whatever, does not make anybody a psychopath.

I'm not sure if I'm looking for advice or commiseration, but will gladly accept either. 

[moominmamma]

 <-- me too. That's so poignant, so sad, so unnecessary. Poor little guy.

Tell him he's a perfectly good foot. School is a perfectly good shoe. Right now they just don't fit each other very well. Things change. Feet grow and change shape. Every year's shoes are a little bit different. In the meantime he might get a few blisters. You'll help him with the bandaids. 

Miranda

[Tigerle]

We're in the process of evaluations too! may the force be with you...

about this piece of character education! You'd wish they'*d focus on just teaching them the three R's sometimes wouldn't you, and leave the character education to more qualified people!