Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
6 yr old: extremely sensitive, sad, and having trouble at school
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
6 yr old: extremely sensitive, sad, and having trouble at school
by Julie Walsh, Dec 10, 2001 12:00AM
My son has always been very sensitive and prone to cry or be hurt by strong words. We moved almost a year ago to a new area (but he is still in the same school and daycare). My son went from an outdoor, friendly kid to a recluse. He hasn't made any new friends in the area, and seems intimidated to try to join. Since he started gr.1 in September, he's fallen apart. He has terribly negative thoughts ('I'll never learn to listen""i'm bad"'I always have bad days") and seems to go out of his way to be miserable (eg. arguing a point he knows is untrue, to maintain his sad feelings). The school has called several times: listening, sitting still, fighting with the other kids (although the fighting is not behavior that I see in other settings). The teacher has him isolated in the classroom so he won't disturb anybody. He's quite bright otherwise, and until this year had several friends and felt pretty good about himself. He had several febrile seizures as a toddler, and sleepwalks, and has night terrors. His EEG reports say: 'borderline', and for some reason there are days that, although he gets the same 11-12 hours sleep, he seems exhausted with bags under his eyes and is completely unable to cope. I think he's somewhat emotionally immature, and he's always had difficulty just accepting things, but this is extreme. He's lost all confidence and self-worth; seems to only focus on the negative. His reactions aren't appropriate for the situation. The move was hard for him, but I can't account for the last 3 months. I am hoping you can give me some direction, he needs help.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Dec 10, 2001 12:00AM
, Dec 10, 2001 12:00AM
This sort of deterioration is more than one would expect even in the face of a transition such as moving. The social reticence in the new neighborhood would actually be understandable, but the change in the emotional and behavioral domains as well indicates the need for some professional intervention. If you have health insurance, access the mental health benefit by calling the appropriate number listed on the back of the insurance card. If you're not sure how to proceed, ask for guidance from your son's pediatrician or from the personnel at his school.
Member Comments (5)
by Julie Walsh, Dec 10, 2001 12:00AM
I should add that he has been in an excellent daycare since 2 years old - and they do not report the problems the school does. He also did Nursery and Kindergarten, with some listening/impulse control challenges. It is only since Grade1 that's he's been spiralling down.
by Julie Walsh, Dec 12, 2001 12:00AM
Thank you so much for your quick reply. I feel alot better knowing we're doing what we can for him, heading in the right direction. Thanks again.
by kiwikiwi, Feb 27, 2002 12:00AM
In response to the mom with the six-year-old...you might also read up on giftedness and the emotions of a gifted child...a lot of times, giftedness is overlooked as a possibility for depression and underachievement in children.
by FIONA FED UP, Mar 08, 2002 12:00AM
HI JUST A LITTLE NOTE FROM A MUM OF THREE BOYS 4,7,9 FROM SCOTLAND.I AM GOING THROUGH THE SAME PATTERN OF BEHEVUR FROM MY 7 YEAR OLD BOY WHEN I READ YOUR NOTE IT HAS HELP ME IN KNOWING I AM NOTE ALONE IN THE PROMBLEM OF BEHUR. I ONLY WISH WE HAD MORE SOPPORT IN EDINBURGH AS YOU SEEM TO HAVE. I THINK YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB IN WHAT SEEM A DIFFIUCULT TIME IN YOUR LIFE. IT WILL GET BETTER JUST GIVE It SOME MORE TIME WELL DONE . THANKYOU FOR YOUR LETTER IT HAS HELPED ME.FIONA
