I have a nearly-3yo and a barely-3yo in my program, and a nearly-4yo. The younger two are head and shoulders above the nearly-4yo in terms of spacial sense, cause and effect, attentiveness, and general social intelligence. There's a nearly-2yo who is rapidly gaining on this older one, too.
It's not that he's not developing. He is, and I've seen some cognitive leaps in the last few weeks. But I've also seen a sudden increase in snatching toys, weaponized screaming (you know . . . when they use max-volume angry shrieks and bellows to try to get their way when you tell them "no"), and casually swatting or shoving any child within reach. He's sleeping longer both here and at home, backsliding on potty training, and has lost some of his ability to sit still for a story or other group activity.
Today culminated in a 15-minute screaming fest. We curtailed outdoor time, came inside, and he stood at the gate in the other space and screamed at us more. "I want to come in! EEE! EEE!" "Screaming hurts our ears. Kids who don't scream may play with us. Are you all done screaming?" "EEE! EEE!"
Yesterday was the same thing, although it didn't escalate as badly. Both times, he shoved another kid in the yard in order to steal the ball THEY had because he didn't want HIS ball. This has become the only way he "plays." It's been like this all along--he only wants things others have--but the aggression and the charging-in-to-take-it is new. When he loses the object he stole, he flips out. When I talk with him at other, calm times, he says "I don't know" in response to all questions, prompts, and suggestions. I assume that's either a time/memory/cause-and-effect problem, or avoidance.
Unfortunately, the behaviors are leeching out to all the other kids. Terminating will result in a 50% loss of income because he's got a sibling enrolled, and I'd rather, if possible, learn some new behavioral management skills.
It's not that he's not developing. He is, and I've seen some cognitive leaps in the last few weeks. But I've also seen a sudden increase in snatching toys, weaponized screaming (you know . . . when they use max-volume angry shrieks and bellows to try to get their way when you tell them "no"), and casually swatting or shoving any child within reach. He's sleeping longer both here and at home, backsliding on potty training, and has lost some of his ability to sit still for a story or other group activity.
Today culminated in a 15-minute screaming fest. We curtailed outdoor time, came inside, and he stood at the gate in the other space and screamed at us more. "I want to come in! EEE! EEE!" "Screaming hurts our ears. Kids who don't scream may play with us. Are you all done screaming?" "EEE! EEE!"
Yesterday was the same thing, although it didn't escalate as badly. Both times, he shoved another kid in the yard in order to steal the ball THEY had because he didn't want HIS ball. This has become the only way he "plays." It's been like this all along--he only wants things others have--but the aggression and the charging-in-to-take-it is new. When he loses the object he stole, he flips out. When I talk with him at other, calm times, he says "I don't know" in response to all questions, prompts, and suggestions. I assume that's either a time/memory/cause-and-effect problem, or avoidance.
Unfortunately, the behaviors are leeching out to all the other kids. Terminating will result in a 50% loss of income because he's got a sibling enrolled, and I'd rather, if possible, learn some new behavioral management skills.
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