My five-year-old is driving me nuts!

Sound familiar? If you’re the parent of a five-year-old, you’ll agree it’s an exciting and fun time to be raising your child – but it’s not without its challenges. So many changes are happening along their developmental roadmap that it’s sometimes hard to control what goes on in their little minds.

Whilst some of your child’s behaviour will drive you up the wall, take heart that he or she is not unique. In most cases, their acting out is a perfectly normal part of growing up. Yet some ongoing misbehaviours or communication struggles could mean your child needs a little extra support.

Consider emotional meltdowns and outbursts. Good social and emotional health begins at an early age. A five-year-old wants to please friends and be like his or her peers. They enjoy trying new things in a safe environment. However, good social and emotional health is dependent on being able to express their needs, wants and concerns.

When young children cannot express themselves adequately, it can cause frustration and can lead to low self-esteem and self-worth.
Children need help learning how to communicate what is happening in a cohesive and structured way. Like being taught to recognise how characters in a story feel so they can begin to recognise how different situations make them feel. Knowing how to express these feelings, and knowing what to do with them, will create better self-esteem and self-worth.

Anxiety is also common for kids who struggle in school and do not have the ability to communicate effectively. Developing and maintaining friendships, understanding new concepts, being afraid to get the answer wrong or not understanding what to do can cause anxiety in some children.

Organisations like Telethon Speech and Hearing understand children and help them manage stressful tasks that can lead to anxiety. By working in small groups, children are able to feel secure enough to ask questions and even get the answer wrong.

Telethon Speech & Hearing’s Talkabout program can help children aged two to five overcome speech and language difficulties through play-based learning in a relaxed and encouraging environment. Enrol today by calling 9387 9888 or visiting tsh.org.au