Is this normal for boys?

Question

HE IS MY ONLY SON AND HE IS ABOUT TO TURN 5. HE ALWAYS IRRATES MY DAUGHTERS CONSTANTLY AND THE ANIMALS LIKE PULL THEIR TAIL OR HOLD THEIR HIND LEGS UP OR LAYS DOWN ON THEM. AND BEATS ON THINGS ALL THE TIME. IM NOT COMPLAINING JUST WONDERING IF THIS IS JUST NORMAL FOR BOYS TO AGGERVATE ALL THE TIME.

Answer 1

Being cruel is never normal - for boys or girls
Your son needs some discipline ,Mommy

Answer 2

I think it varies with the child. My son loves animals and would never hurt one at all. He has been a self subscribed vegetarian since he was 8 because he couldn't think of eating the chicken after seeing one and playing with it. Some boys definitely get into destroying and killing and even mutilating bugs. i realized i'mnot really answering your question directly; sorry. Boys are so different from girls and they give and look for attention in so many different ways -- some more aggressively and others more annoyingly. My philosophy is to try and let the kids have their own relationship based on however it is they form it. That certainly doesn't include hurting each other without consequences but sometimes there can be a fine line between pestering and harming. Aggravating each other is hard to evaluate too -- do you get aggrevated or do the girls? What do they do about it? Is your son being provoked or are they? The animals is a very different thing than how he treats his siblings too, I think. Most animals will tolerate a lot of mistreatment and not do anything to discourage it and there's not much you can really do in that case to prove to your son that the animal doesn't like it. but, is he abusing the animals or just being annoying to them? Some kids take out their aggressions on animals because that's the lowest level they can get to and they feel powerful and in control of the animal that way. It's hard to know what you mean when you say "He always..." also because is this a daily thing with him? Does he treat the animals well and caringly sometimes or is this the only interaction he has with them? Might they not like it someday and hurt him? Does he do this only when he knows he's being watched or does he mistreat them when he thinks he's alone as well?

Answer 3

It may be the "norm" but it isn't right. Not to be exaggerating but just to give you some examples of what this type of behavior may lead to:
irritates daughters: doing this just for the fun of it: bully

roughing animals around: this is sometimes an indicator that children have some pent up anger and don't know how to express it and get it out. It may be harmless now and it might even be funny, but at the age of 5 a boy can be taught the right way to treat animals.

beating on things: again it sounds as if he expresses himself through anger and action rather than working through his anger by communicating it with mom and dad and whomever.

Please, nip this in the bud before it develops further into a larger anger/aggression problem.

Again, it may not develop into anything, but what is the harm in teaching your child how to be nice to siblings, animals, and helping him express his anger in other ways? If you give your kids these skills then you win either way.

Answer 4

My son does it a little, but our neighbor boy who is 5 does that stuff ALL the time. My son is an only child, but since he is friends with the 5 y/o right next to us, it feels like we have 2 kids. Those boys are constantly trying to annoy each other. Sell the kid on e bay. LoL, I told that to my son once. I immediately told him I was joking though because he got a little upset..

Answer 5

I have a son, and he didn't behave the way you are saying your son acts. I'm not saying it's not normal, but it sounds to me like you may need to find a healthy outlet for him. Maybe you should get him into a sport...my son was in karate and t- ball from ages 3-10 ( he's 12 now ) and it did wonders for him, he loved it, he learned patience and discipline.

Answer 6

I have 3 boys and no girls. My boys are rough and I think boys are naturally rough. You just have to set limits! Do it now while he is still little. If he has the extra energy to beat up on things get him some drumming classes or allow him to do gardening. My kids love to do gardening with me and by the time we are done, boy we are exhausted. They don't have the energy to beat up on each other. You have a balanced house (your little girl) I am the only woman in this house and sometimes it can get crazy.

Answer 7

my son is almost 4. If he acted like that he'd be in so much trouble. He wouldn't have any toys left!

I have taught my son to be very kind to animals. He's never once done anything to my cats other then yell at them (which he went to time out for).

Answer 8

I think he does need a little more discipline, but it is pretty normal. My son is only 2 and likes stepping our cat and taking things from my daughters hands.

Answer 9

Boys are very rough, however abusing animals isnt part of "being a boy" That needs to be stopped with stricter punishment. We have 5 boys and they bugging the girls is normal LOL. I wouldnt worry about it too much, boys are just rough and tough!

Mom of 5 boys ages 8,6,6,4 and 1 month

Answer 10

Sometimes.Sounds like he wants more attention from you.Try involving him in a game or something.Put a puzzle together( a big one) and have both kids to help you.This helps bring the family together.