6 year old daughter strange behavior

[2dc]

Over the past few weeks, my daughter has been acting so strange.  First of all, she has been very moody.  She has been talking back a lot and just seems to have a bad attitude at times.  She has also been very sensitive to everything.  It hasn't been taking very much to make her cry.  I mean even just asking her questions will make her cry.

Another thing that has me concerned is that she doesn't seem to want to do anything for herself.  She's been telling me to do things for her like picking out her clothes, tie her shoes, and other things that she could normally do on her own.  She's just sort of been acting lazy.

She doesn't even want to do her homework or allow me to teach her much of anything.  Now this is a girl who USUALLY LOVES school and LOVES doing homework and learning things, etc.  This just isn't like her AT ALL.  I mean her love for learning along with other things is why is she currently being considered to be put into the gifted program at her school.  The testing hasn't even began, and her behavior is just making me wonder if she should still be tested.  She knows NOTHING about the testing at all yet, so I don't think it's pressure or anything.

She's been telling me that she's tired, but nothing's changed as far as sleep, diet or exercise.  I keep her on a schedule just as always.

She hasn't been listening much lately either.  She's been VERY disrespectful in this regard.  I could something straight to her face, and she won't even acknowledge that I've said one word to her and will continue doing whatever it is.  

Even when I can get alone with her and try to spend some time with and try to talk with her, she either acts babyish, or she just sort of spaces out.

Even punishing her has become very difficult because she's just acting like everything is sooooo much worse than actually is.

Just recently, we were at the store with her father and younger sibling, and she was misbehaving (worse than our younger sibling - as usual these days - then younger sibling copies her) so my husband warned her if she did not settle down, listen and behave, he would put her in the shopping cart.  Sure enough, she did NOT listen, and he followed through...  She then threw a massive tantrum that reminded me of 2 yr old behavior.


This is just so upsetting because I was beyond close with my daughter, but as she's getting older I just feel like she's pulling away more and more.  I always think maybe she DOES want to be closer with me again, yet when I do things with her she's just kind of rude and acts as if I know nothing and she is smarter than me and backtalks, etc.



I just don't know what to do.


What do you think is going on with her?  How can I help her?  What should I do?


Thank you for your time and for any answers you can give me.

[LRM1021]

I have read that 6 year olds can go through a stage like this -- could be a stage. I would talk to the pediatrician.
Is she misbevaing only at home and not at school? If so, then it sounds like some growing pains. I would talk to the dr and get some quick advice on behavior management -- since this is new behavior- my guess is it will pass pretty soon.

[althepal39]

This may sound like I'm just simplifying the problem - but she sounds like she's just tired.  My sons behavior is awful when he's tired.  But you say her sleep routine hasn't changed - maybe she just needs more sleep now - maybe try putting her to sleep an hour earlier?  Or maybe take her to the doctor - maybe she is anemic or lacking in some vitamin?