Last week when I was dropping off DS5 (preK) his teacher pulled me aside and asked if I'd ever heard him make threatening comments toward people. Apparently she had moved him to another seat to separate him from one of his partners in mischief (another issue) and then she heard him say that he was going to "break into Mrs. P's house and cut her in half". Sigh.
I told her that, yes, I've heard him say things like that before and it's usually when he's very frustrated and feels powerless and that I don't think he means it in a realistic way at all. He has a very rich imaginary world that mingles with his real world, and in addition, he plays things like shooting monsters and "bad guys" with the other 5 yo boys. I think it's the same sort of "age appropriate" pretend violence with a little bit of PG knowledge thrown in. I truly don't think he means it in a really graphic, real life and death way. Although the breaking into the house part is a little creepy, I'll admit.
She was fairly nice about it, but basically implied that she thinks he has psychological issues. She told me that she's never heard another preschooler say something like that in her 20 years of teaching. (I bit my tongue and didn't point out that she's probably never taught another child like him in 20 years because she doesn't totally "get" it, which is another ongoing issue!)
So, what do you all think? Have your kids done things like this? Is it "normal" or should I get him to the shrink ASAP? My probing of DS to find out why he says things like that confirms that he's mad and I've already been working with him about how to channel his frustrations and anger (e.g. you don't need to scream and cry when the seatbelt is twisted and won't buckle), but we have a long way to go.
Last edited by radwild; 04/18/11 02:27 PM.
