How to stop son breaking things

Redouble

The issue I personally have with removing the items he breaks / removing access to them is how is he to learn how to behave correctly around those items? It is a tricky one though, we all have to do what we are comfortable with

Redouble xx

meritaten

I would change pediatricians - this needs further investigation as it sounds to me like ADHD. I would want a second opinion. to dismiss this behaviour is typical of 'medical' personel - I would ask GP to refer to a psychiatrist.

jackyann

Lots of good suggestions OP - I hope some of them are helpful.
I partially agree with meritaten: it may or may not be ADHD - a lot of problems present with this unusually destructive behaviour. I do suspect it may need looking at more closely.
The best person to approach varies from area to area, but I would begin with the school nurse (not the first aider - the health authority nurse attached to the school - ask the school secretary). S/he should know how things work locally. For instance: I have worked in an area where we had "first call" therapists from Child & Adolescent Mental Health attached to every school. In cases like this they would offer advice & support, do initial observations, and report back to the main team.
The school nurse should definitely be able to offer you advice & support and suggest the best referral option.

Whatever else you do, firm, positive parenting is always helpful, but not always easy; good luck

fluffnutter

mildred1978 wrote: »

They weren't losing focus - they did no tidying. Mum and dad even asked them if they were tidying and they shouted back "yes mummy" while jumping on their beds. And similar things within that hour and a half.

More fool mum and dad. I'd never leave a six and four year old alone to tidy their room and expect it to get done. Maybe the six year old on their own but I personally think four's a little young to tidy a room without help and two kids together are likely to get far more distracted and start playing than one on his or her own.

I wouldn't leave them alone for an hour and a half either. What do people think they're going to be doing? Playing chess quietly or a bit of calculus?

mildred1978

fluffnutter wrote: »

More fool mum and dad. I'd never leave a six and four year old alone to tidy their room and expect it to get done. Maybe the six year old on their own but I personally think four's a little young to tidy a room without help and two kids together are likely to get far more distracted and start playing than one on his or her own.

I wouldn't leave them alone for an hour and a half either. What do people think they're going to be doing? Playing chess quietly or a bit of calculus?

Goodness me. I really do have to get right down to the minute details for you lot, don't I?

Firstly the 4 year olf will be 5 in just over 2 weeks. Ive already told you that they are very bright children.

Secondly, they weren't left alone for an hour and a half. They were checked on every 15-20 minutes and reminded/shown what they should be doing. Tidying the toys in their room (of which there aren't many) isn't really any more tasking than setting or clearing the table, both of which they have done every evening for a while now.

Thirdly, they weren't expected to do it perfectly, they were expected to try. I don't think that's very much to ask.