Recently out of control

[Cassie855]

My son is 8 years old and has always, always been a brillant, bright, beautiful mannered boy, but since being in year 3 he has completly changed. Every other year he has displayed brillant results in school and even top honours.
This year he has gone completly off the rails, he has been caught stealing, grafitting, and puncturing bike tyres on other children's bikes.
Usually a relatively easy child to speak to and to understand the meaning of right and wrong, he doesn't seem to care about a thing anymore and it is scary, he found out 2 years ago that his father is in jail and I recently had a baby who is 1 but other than that his life is very stable and built around routine.
The whole thing is very foriegn to me as I would never of even thought about acting in such a way, and I am devastated and angry all at the same time, I have tried to take away eveything that he enjoys in way of punishment and have even grounded him, but that doesn't seem to have any affect whatsoever.

[SuziB]

This sounds just like my son. He was being bullied at school by a group of boys who were physically stronger but less intelligent than him. It had been going on for months before things came to a head. Don't assume your son isn't being bullied or having the unwanted attentions of someone(maybe even a teacher) at school. You may have to dig deep to make sure things are ok at school, but look closely. You need to be on his side and find out what is going on.
I took my son to see a child psychologist (with his permission) and she helped a lot. Soem things he just couldn't tell me but he felt free to talk to her. He only had about 5 sessions before he felt ready to deal with the world again. Good luck with your son.

[RockRose]

Is his father's behavior like this too?

[Cassie855]

we used to live in a unit for years and he could never run around, now we have been living in a house with a big yard for 3 or so months. He has a friend next door and is constantly outside playing. Even when I try to give him affection he seems distant, and I feel like it is so hard to connect with him even on that level.

[margypops]

A lot has happened in his life since he has a new Baby and that can cause most children to feel some jealous and act out, How is he at school does he have friends he gets on with and also the Teachers, is it mostly there that problems arise,is there any Bullying goes on you are not aware of hence he punctures tyres ,as if he is getting his own Back. Check out what is happening there , ask him about it aswell.Also finding out his Dad is in jail would have been upsetting. Does he get enough Physical activity at school and at home, Boys are happiest when they are involved in some sports,and Games, have you a Male Family member can do any Guy things with him.Use the time out Method if hes bad at home,dont yell try to cut him some slack sometimes overreaction can make a sensitive situation worse.He sees his sibling getting attention make sure you are giving him enough also.