6 1/2 yr old boy and emotional issues

[ronnie38]

My son is 6.5 yrs old and the oldest of two boys, his brother is 4. My question is about is emotional/coping skills. He reduces to tears over large and small issues (falling and hurting himself gets the same response as a broken cracker or burnt toast) and is easily frustrated. He is a very bright boy in school, however, his teacher has expressed to us that she feels he is very anxious and seems to have a hard time making friends.

My perception of him is that he has great empathy for others, would like to be more like the other boys ('I don't really like sports the way the other boys do')and wears his heart on his sleeve-which makes it difficult with homework/parenting or any other type of instruction.

When we work on homework assignments, he does very well, its just so difficult to keep him focused on finishing the task without a battle. If he makes a mistake, he will constantly erase or reduce to tears and not want to finish. However, when he is done, he has a great sense of accomplishment.

I just want to do the best for him-I just feel that something is not right with. We keep coming back to the way he will just break down, which to us seems to be over nothing, but obviously to him thats just a trigger to another issue.

Please help.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Some children are quite labile and overly reactive to frustration, mostly as a result of developmental immaturity (re: tolerance of frustration). Don't assume that your son's reactions are a trigger to another issue - it may well be that what you see (i.e., overreaction to an apparently small stimulus) is what you get, so to speak. Now, having said that, it can also be true that such reactions are symptomatic of emotional disorder, such as mood or anxiety disorders in young children. It would not be unwise to seek an evaluation by a child psychologist and see what perspective that person can offer you. There can be no harm in seeking such intervention and it may offer your son and you some help. It could certainly help to clarify, from a diagnostic perspective, what is occurring.

[justme§thedog]

My son was identical and know exactly what you mean about difficulty parenting a child who's so reactive and sensitive.  My son's behaviour was caused by anxiety related to sleep deprivation (I've posted some information in other comments....one just a few days ago). I had been trying to teach him relaxation techniques, coping, etc all with limited success.  Because of the sleep disorder, he had to be medicated so he could get proper sleep.

He started on 0.5 mg clonazepam (also an anti-anxiety) when he was 6 and he's a completely different kid.  At 9, he's had a few years now of better control, better coping, successful experiences with criticism and his self-esteem is much, much better.  WHAT a difference.  

I think you're right on the button having further evaluation done.  Don't forget to consider sleep disorders, but what you describe is the exact anxiety and emotional lability I saw in my son.  If there is a problem, it is so worth treating. good luck.

[Gary T]

i have had a 5 year old with some of the same issues and he had senory intergrated issues. Look up sensorylearning.com and see if it matches up with your child.