Hi guys, really needing advice/help. I have two boys aged 4 & 6. We have had a lot on our plate as a family this past year with my husband gaining a promotion which meant an interstate move... My 6 year old was in a private school and with the move we've placed him in a public school which seems more relaxed in terms of "letting kids be kids" where the private school was very strict, lately my 6 year old has been really naughty and full of attitude and is constantly fighting with our 4 year old- they are now starting to hit each other and it's so embarrasing and seems that nothing I say to them is going in and being listened to... I'm at my wits end, I feel like a failure to be raising children who behave this way and I want to know - is the fighting normal? And is he behaviour just his age?? I'm an only child so have no idea about sibling squabbles.
3 Replies
Siblings fighting is totally normal and has zero to do with the school situation. Even in hard core private schools boys fight, rough house etc.
However it still is something that should be worked on if you don't like it or think it's acceptable. Remember 6 year olds are still learning. But it is an age where they generally will try and push boundaries and test you. It's up to you how you discipline at home and deal with it.
Kids are excellent at learning what is allowable behaviour at one location versus another. So even if it for some reason was allowed at school it doesn't mean it's allowed at home. For example my niece and nephew learnt very quickly that there house rules were not my house rules. Just like in a library kids learn they have to be quiet but outside they can run around like wild things.
My kids fought way more when they were in private school, since moving them to a small public school they haven't been as much so don't think it's the school. I think it is just the age, kids aren't born with the knowledge of knowing how to act we have to teach them and they will act inappropriately at times. You are not a failure, you're just raising a perfectly normal child who needs your teaching on how to act just like all kids do.
No advice but good luck my brother and I fought for 18 years lol til I moved out