Re: Unreasonable expectations for CRAZY 6 year old?
MudPies has good tips. I would ignore anything that can be ignored. Moving around or laughing innaprpriately would just mean I ask her to repeat what I said. My 6 year old doesn't hold eye contact when I'm talking to him and he often moves around during a conversation. I make sure he stays close by ("comer over here while I'm talking to you, don't walk away") but he doesn't have to be still or look at me. I say "what did I say?" Or ask what he's meant to do and he almost always can repeat it back to me. Practicing proper behavior is very helpful, so in the moment you can refer to what you've been practicing so you're not trying to teach something AND address something else. Two lessons at once is too much. I also agree with Celtic, maybe consider that these behaviors are a result of keeping it together while in school. Perhaps she needs to find another way to express all this so that she can pay attention to you when she needs to. I have a child with an anxiety disorder, so I know this is a lot easier to say than to do, but I think ignoring as much as possible and finding better ways to express these feelings/desires/needs will really help you both.
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Mary K
wife to Daniel for 16 years
mom to 13 year old the Girl
and 11 year old the Boy
and 8 year old Tiny
Almost always posting from my phone.
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