Is this normal behavior for a 5 year old?

Question

My oldest son just turned 5. His teacher has been having a little bit of trouble with him regarding "silly" things and following directions.

For example, they sang a silly song where they changed the first letter of everyone's name to an "L". She said he got very upset and didn't want his name to start with an L. Today he got upset because she moved his crayons out of his reach while he was sitting - all he needed to do was stand up and reach. He's not being a "pest" on purpose, he genuinely gets upset.

Also, he's very picky about his food. No sauces, nothing grilled, no yellow cheese, it has to "look right", etc.

I really don't feel as though we have raised him this way. I truly think he came into this world "picky" about everything. He's very intelligent with a HUGE vocabulary, but he likes things to be as he likes them.

Is any of this normal for a 5 year old or am I looking at a behavior/personality problem?

He eats what I cook or he doesn't eat. I don't have time to cook different meals - I have two other children.

No, I don't go by his every desire - again, I have two other children as well.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Answer 1

sometimes kids get a little ocd about things, but most kids have their own personal quirks that may eventually fade. just wait a bit and see

Answer 2

I don't know how "normal", as far as being very common, it is, but I know my son acted a lot the same way at that age. He's almost 8 now and nearly grown out of this kind of thing, so there is hope for you! :) Carol Gilligan, a psychiatrist who has done a lot of gender difference studies, says that most boys will go through kind of an identity crisis at about this age. They are just starting to get how boys are "supposed" to act, but many of them are still close to mom and not ready for all that. It can be really hard on them! I am pretty sure that is what my guy was going through. Plus, boys just do mature more slowly, some of them more than others, so they need a lot of patience. As long as he isn't being violent, I'm sure you'll both be fine. The discipline tactics you're using some about right to me. It'll sink in for him eventually.

Answer 3

Could be any number of things. Although he seems intelligent, he could still have some emotional maturity issues.
Many children are 'picky', a few less are fussy, and some have OCD [ obsessive-compulsive disorder ].
Are his grades good? Does he have friends at school and at home? Can he interract with people outside his age group?
Ask the school counselor or social worker if he needs to be evaluated. Also, ask your pediatrician.
Chances are he will be OK, but need some gradual changes in his life. Do this for him, you don't want him to struggle socially through his school years for being 'weird'.
[My younger son had social anxiety, and was teased from second through ninth grade! Any stress would cause he to turn totally inside himself, and hide either physically, in his cubbie; or emotionally, pretending he was asleep. He saw a therapist after I refused to drug him with a 'tranq' for anxiety and ritalin for ADD - which he does not have!
The therapist saw him a few months, and he made remarkable changes in coping, becoming a honor student, and making great friends. ]

Answer 4

Sure is normal for a 5 year old, lol i am still picky hahaha and i am 17yrs old


And i got some bad attitude when i was young, i stab other students with a pencil [not on purpose]

ps: i dont stab people w/ pencils now

He will be fine, When i think about it i feel kinda silly...all the stupid things i did the past

Answer 5

I'm a mother of two kids and every child is different and has there own quirks. It may just be a fays your son is going through or that's just his personality, but if you really are concerned then i would make an appointment and talk to his doctor about it. With him being so young still i wouldnt worry to much.

Answer 6

It's all normal.

Kids play silly harmless games to amuse themselves nd learn word play and thought processes.

As far as the food matters goes, he's testing the waters to find out what influence he can assert over that which he cannot control at age 5, like getting and choosing his food.

The games are benign, don't concern yourself with them. He'll get over it. Explain to him that it's just a kids game and it doesn't matter what letter they chose to play the game with, his name is his name and thats it. period.

As far as the food goes you have two choice depending on what parenting style you are comfortable with.

A. Tell him he'll eat what is served and what everyone is eating or he'll go hungry. That's it period. He'll quit being picky in a few days.

B. Feed him only what he likes, letting him dicate the rules he lives by and change your decisions accordingly.

Both bear consequenses in how he'll grow up perceiving life to be. You can choose to discuss this with a child psychologist if you like to aid you in your decision as how to handle child pickiness and determine what parenting style you are comfortable what and the likely consequenses may be.

Answer 7

It could be your child's temperament. It is OK that he is picky, so be it. He is only 5 years old. The only concern that might come into play later on is Asperger's Syndrome. A lot of children who are on the autistic spectrum are just like what you described. however, these children have deficits in social skills and can't relate to people well. They are highly intelligent and have narrow interests.

Answer 8

its not a normal behaviour, not at all. maybe u should consider taking your kid to a psychologist,because i cannot really tell what he has. he might be one of those very intelligent kids,and one of the things you notice besides their abnormal intelligence,its their behaviour towards other people and their daily life. Normally,kids like this like to be in control of everything (including people and kids of their age) because they are aware of their intelligence and know that they are diferent and they try to manipulate everything and everyone.
Maybe he has some disorder and doesnt like at all things without being the way he wants or unorganized things. im shore that if you clean his room and you dont leave his things on the same place they were before,he gets angry about. really,you should express this behaviour to a psychologist, like i said,he might have a disorder. dont be scared (in case he has),its something you and him will learn how to cope with, normally people like this are difficult to deal with,they like to be in control.

Answer 9

I teach pre-k almost all the kids are like that most of them grow out of it....If you give him what he wants all the time your going to have one snotty kid on your hands. Its easy to break them of it. Dont spoil the heck out of them. About the name and the crayons that's totally normal he has lived with his name like that forhis whole life somethimes they think there name is getting changed. Some kids just dont like it no biggy

Answer 10

Maybe he has some brain deficiency, show him to a doctor to be on the safe side, you want what's best for your child. This kinds of behavior is awkward.