https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 10 May 2026 00:10:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/older-kid-6ish-freak-outs#post-2890022 Thu, 04 Jul 2019 09:05:57 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2890022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My sister is dealing with this with her 7yo son and is going to see a behaviorist. When he loses it he kicks walls, threatens to jump off the bed, throws things. So far she’s had moderate success with descriptive praise. Talking about all the good things she’s sees him doing. It’s from a book called Calmer Easier Happier Parenting. I’ll try to update when she sees someone! He’s always been sensitive and always had tantrums but it feels a little worse now. (Also he was a thumb sucker and now has an appliance to prevent it so he doesn’t have his built in calming mechanism....) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/older-kid-6ish-freak-outs#post-2889311 Thu, 27 Jun 2019 22:51:08 +0000 irene 2889311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No advice, just hugs. I have a 7.5 yo that freaks out and it has never been easy since he was a baby. (there was a brief moment at around 1-2 that was "easier"? And that was it). </p> <p>Just today, we went to a B&amp;N for 15 mins before the swim class starts. As we were walking in I said, hey, you are going to go when it is time to go, right? He said yes. You are not going to nag and whine and throw a tantrum to beg me to buy a book, right? (He did that exactly last week) he said no. 10 mins up I said we have 5 more mins. 5 mins passed I said times up we gotta go. No!!! 3 more pages, I am reading it very quickly!!! I walked a bit further, dude we gotta go, bye! No! 1 more page! 5 mins later I said ok I am going to wait for you in the car and I was standing pretty far at that point. He said mommy? Where are you? Then he ran out after me, insisted he wanted to show me something and I must turn back. I walked on and said we had to go 10 mins ago. He cried and screamed behind me. I refused to stop, he pulled on my dress and dragged his body weight on it, my dress made a loud rip sound (haven't figured out where yet). When he lose his grip I literally ran out of the store as this tantrum 7.5 yo child/spoiled brat screamed and cried running behind me. We were late to swim class and took me the whole class to calm down. </p> <p>I have to say in retrospect the magnitude of this was better than the 3-5.5 years (I had WAYYYYY WORSE). But at the same time, seriously, 7 year olds still do that??? And then I have friends who would say with a smile, 7 yo is the BEST year, so easy! #$*()@&amp;&gt;:-(</p> <p>We talked about it calmly but seriously before we got back into the car (He always apologizes and knows he was wrong, always). We talked about time management, priority, and how of course we always want to do the thing we want to do right now but there are other items/priorities we have to consider. Yes mommy I am sorry mommy. But guess what, this exact thing will happen again and again and again every other day until I am in my death bed (probably soon). Sorry, some of you probably can handle this way better than me, but I feel like I am running on flat, I change my tires and then next day it got slashed and become flat again so now I am just flat out running on flat because I bought, changed and slashed all the tires I can get. I am so tired of dealing with this every so often for at least 5 years of my life. It's like constantly being beaten by a stick every day for 7 years. No light at the end of tunnel. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/older-kid-6ish-freak-outs#post-2889162 Wed, 26 Jun 2019 15:51:38 +0000 lindseykaye 2889162@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@luckygirl: I think hunger/blood sugar and dehydration also play a big part in when my LO has more freak outs. We're trying to really stress water intake at home, especially now that it's summer and so hot. As well as keeping some structure to her meals/snacks now that she's home with DH from school for the summer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/older-kid-6ish-freak-outs#post-2889161 Wed, 26 Jun 2019 15:49:32 +0000 BlueWolverine 2889161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks, all, for the commiseration. I usually stay pretty calm, but I'm going to work on reminding myself about big feelings. </p> <p>It's nice to know I'm not alone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/older-kid-6ish-freak-outs#post-2889136 Wed, 26 Jun 2019 11:54:09 +0000 Mommy Finger 2889136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A friend of mine warned me about these random freak outs that start happening around the age of 7 or maybe she said around 1st grade. My 6.5yo started acting out recently as well. I chalked it up to the transition he's going through from completing his kindergarten year and having to go back to his old school for camp. But definitely some big emotions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/older-kid-6ish-freak-outs#post-2889134 Wed, 26 Jun 2019 11:22:22 +0000 hitchhiker 2889134@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@luckygirl: Yes, I think disruptions to the routine exacerbate my daughter's tantrums. Our recent string of tantrums are also (I think) related to end of the school year (plus my husband has, uncharacteristically, been on work travel for several weeks, which further disrupted her routine). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/older-kid-6ish-freak-outs#post-2889133 Wed, 26 Jun 2019 11:06:24 +0000 charm55 2889133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This thread made me feel soo much better. My almost 6 year old is really well behaved 90% of the time. In the past 6 months though she has had some extreme freak outs over seemingly little things. To the point where I’m bewildered and don’t know what to do with her because I don’t recognize this behaviour in my child. It’s like her emotions are suddenly so big and she can’t regulate them. I hope it’s a passing phase... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/older-kid-6ish-freak-outs#post-2889132 Wed, 26 Jun 2019 11:02:38 +0000 luckygirl 2889132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 5.5 year old recently started having huge freak out tantrums that seem to come out of nowhere. Once or twice I think he was pretty hungry, so that didn't help. But otherwise we can't figure out why he is getting so upset so quickly and then staying grumpy for hours after. He did just finish up his school year a couple of weeks ago and started summer camp, so we wonder if that transition is contributing to things. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/older-kid-6ish-freak-outs#post-2889128 Wed, 26 Jun 2019 10:41:47 +0000 lindseykaye 2889128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here to commiserate with you about my own 6.5yo DD. She has pretty regular freakouts that have kind of always been around here and there. Often it has to do with us speaking sternly to her, or when we have to repeatedly ask her something and then she feels offended. Or, when she feels rushed about something (even though she's been given ample time and we are doing our best to guide her rather than push her).</p> <p>I know that in our case she has some anxiety, and is a very sensitive kid overall. We and her teachers (during the school year) have been working for a while on helping her learn calming/coping mechanisms to ease this and try to make outbursts less frequent, less disruptive, and shorter in duration (for everyone's benefit but mostly her own). </p> <p>There have been improvements and we try to emphasize that she can be mad/sad/frustrated but she absolutely cannot be rude or mean or take it out on someone who is trying to help her. We try to give her alone time to calm down and encourage her to use some 'calm down' toys like a kaleidoscope or one of those oil/water color drop things (these: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H5NWX9R/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?psc=1&#038;pd_rd_i=B07H5NWX9R" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H5NWX9R/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?psc=1&#038;pd_rd_i=B07H5NWX9R</a> ) which definitely help. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/older-kid-6ish-freak-outs#post-2889127 Wed, 26 Jun 2019 10:40:47 +0000 hitchhiker 2889127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh, yes. I can totally commiserate but have no solutions. My 6 year old can really throw down. Her favorite tantrum tactic is to shriek at the top of her lungs while blowing all of the snot out of her nose and down her face. We live in an old row house and I'm convinced my neighbors can hear her and think that I am torturing her. </p> <p>Like @autumnmama79 says, I try to remain calm, talk her through the emotions, and offer her unconditional love, but she makes it as hard as possible!.She's always been tough and I imagine I may have a lifetime of tantrums (in different forms) ahead of me. Her 3 year old sister is already better at putting her words to her emotions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/older-kid-6ish-freak-outs#post-2889125 Wed, 26 Jun 2019 10:31:47 +0000 Autumnmama79 2889125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BlueWolverine: I've got one of these too. started at around 5 and still going strong at 10 :shocked: I describe her as a very vivacious personality. She wears her emotions on her sleeve! It has been hard on me and very hard on the family at times. I talk to her about regulating emotions and ways to calm down when she's worked up over something. Most of all I offer her unconditional love. Lots of navigating feelings and growing pains. Happy to report she's getting better! She's able to recover from episodes quicker and is consistent about apologizing to me after. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/older-kid-6ish-freak-outs#post-2889123 Wed, 26 Jun 2019 10:24:54 +0000 Ajsmommy 2889123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Interesting.... my 5.5 yo DD has just started having massive breakdowns. That are not in character for her. The other day she lost it, I mean lost it bc her brother was pushing a box of wipes around and she wanted to do it but he'd screech at her when she tried to take it from him.. Full on ran into the other room and had a melt down under the table. Yelling leave me alone and that it's not fair. Another time her 2 yo brother got his foot tangled in her hair and hurt her and she freaked out and ran upstairs screaming to leave her alone.. it's just out of character.</p> <p>I am guessing maybe it's just that they are having big emotions and aren't quite sure how to handle them yet??? IDK.. but you are not alone and I can commiserate with you. </p> <p>I can't think of anything that has changed or triggered my DD. It's just like when something bothers her it's suddenly very very dramatic and serious. Maybe this is just prep for the teen years?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/older-kid-6ish-freak-outs#post-2889119 Wed, 26 Jun 2019 10:15:00 +0000 BlueWolverine 2889119@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My six year old is generally a good kid; mostly kind to her sister, listens, takes care of her stuff. However, probably once or twice a week, she completely loses her shit about something. For example, we were leaving and I asked her to carry her backpack (which she does all the time). She whines for me to carry it. I'm already carrying stuff and say no. She falls to the floor as if I have trashed her favorite toy saying, "Mama, no!" over and over. Then I give her a space to work this out (though, I admit, I am visibly frustrated) and she starts screaming "Leave me alone!" like I'm beating her. This morning, she wanted candy in her lunch and I said no because I found a secret candy stash in her room the night before; she's not allowed to have candy/food in her room and she knows it. Cue immediate freak out, refusing to put on clothes, etc. We have to be out the door at a certain time, so I've got her clothes in hand ready to walk out the door and she's screaming "Mama NO!" at the top of her lungs while three year old sister is still sleeping. Then comes DH barging out to tell her to be quiet (like I haven't tried that).</p> <p>It's been a frustrating morning, y'all. Anyone else have six year olds that still have ridiculous tantrums? She does this crap more than the three year old does. </p>