Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Age or Ability Specific Forums Pre-school Sudden personality change/sensitivities?

it could be 4 year old testosterone. Or he could just have suddenly understood death (about that age my kids did) or he has become aware of existential stuff. I found the twos quite easy but not the fours as well. If you were in NZ I would ask about school as here kids start disappearing to school as your child approached five and it can be upsetting. But are kids he know leaving preschool or activities?

Hmm, a few of those sorts of things have happened although he didn't seem upset at the time. One time at bedtime he asked me about time (I guess) - "So, are there just going to be days and days and days forever?" and we explained that eventually he'd die but it'd be a lot of days so now he says there will be "days and days and days until we die". He didn't seem upset but I guess that's kind of a heavy concept. Preschool has also ended recently and he was a little sad about it. Both of those events were about a month ago but maybe it's taking a while for things to 'sink in' or something. Usually he rolls with changes like that but maybe he's feeling a bit more sensitive to it.

I'd probe further on the existential topics. My son started exhibiting some concern about death a year ago, and it coincided with a spike in separation anxiety. Given your son's age, he's within the developmental range where these topics would become top of mind.

You've only lost your temper once? That's amazing! I'd agree with polarbear - pretty normal to loose it occasionally.

Ditto the existential issues at that age. DS became emotional/concerned about death around that age.

Ha Loy58, ummm... definitely lost my temper more than once. I do think it was hard for him that weekend because he was trying out some new (extremely obnoxious) behaviors, then daddy was gone and mommy got super annoyed. Last night we had a really sweet little talk at bedtime about how he was scared other kids would hit him and that he feels really badly when he hits me. So I think maybe he's been feeling guilty and sad? Still processing things a bit on both sides. It's a good reminder for me that there's often more going on under the surface than I realize. He's been much better this week so maybe he's coming out of it a bit.