Somewhere between the end of kindergarten and the beginning of elementary school, children change their behavior. They tend to againor emotional outbursts, develop incomprehensible fears and behave a bit as if they were already in the.
And to a certain extent they are. The term 6-year crisis or pre-puberty, as loose-toothed puberty is also called, sounds harmless at first.
What kind of crisis can a six or seven-year-old child have just because he has wobbly teeth and gaps in his teeth?
But as the outbursts of anger and emotions suggest, this growth phase will not be quite so harmless for either your child or you parents.
Unlike teenage puberty, it's not hormones that temporarily throw your child off track, nor are they loose teeth. So many changes are happening in his head during this phase that he doesn't know how to deal with them. So it's completely out of character.
So that you can support your child and yourself during this development phaseIf you can help, we want to explain loose tooth puberty to you. We also have a few helpful tips for dealing with gap-toothed children.
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When does loose tooth puberty start?
As is always the case in children's development, there is no fixed time for loose-toothed puberty. Some children start at five years old and others at seven. As the name suggests, a good clue for parents is the wobbling of the first milk teeth.
Don't worry about missing your child's loose-toothed puberty. You can't do that, and you'll notice exactly when it starts with your child.
With my oldest, I didn't realize he was in this phase. I didn't even know the term. He was aggressive and super sensitive at the same time, argued with us to no end and was completely unavailable for tips or help.
A small thing could upset him so much that I didn't know how to react. And the constant door slamming.
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When my daughter was in exactly the same phase, I knew more about it and that helped me to deal with her and the situation better.
What happens during loose tooth puberty?
Children grow at a rapid pace. Both physically, but especially mentally. When they turn five, six or seven years old, you suddenly notice that they are no longer the little children they were just now. They suddenly look more grown-up, argue with you like there's no tomorrow and find a lot of things mom and dad suggest stupid.
Welcome to loose-toothed puberty. A small step back towards the 'defiant phase', but also a small look ahead to the teenage years and actual puberty.
It is said that in the time of wobbly teeth, our children's souls also wobble. You are suddenly super sensitive and seem more sensitive than ever. A little thing can throw them completely off track, make them extremely sad or really angry. Many parents do not recognize their child at this time and wonder whether they have done something wrong.
Almost all children feel this way. As with actual puberty, the manifestation of loose-toothed puberty is different for every child. Some people are hit really hard and others just slip through it. But no matter what type your child belongs to, this phase will pass again.
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How does loose tooth puberty manifest itself?
Around the age of seven, many children begin a growth spurt. Suddenly they shoot up and then have to come to terms with their 'new' body. This means that many children have a much more pronounced need to move. Sitting still is even more of a challenge during loose-toothed puberty.
Difficult, considering that children start school at exactly this stage. But what makes our children even more unsettled than the physical changes that come with a growth spurt is the pressure that comes with itsense.
They are no longer small and can play all day long. At the age of six or seven, children notice very clearly that the expectations of them are also different.
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That's unsettling. Unfortunately, only a few children can put this uncertainty into words. Most children therefore tend to express them in nervous or angry reactions. Which in turn causes problems for them. Because they don't understand why they are in a good mood one moment and sad or angry the next.
Loose tooth puberty: typical symptoms
Mood swings are a typical sign of loose-toothed puberty.
But the '6-year crisis' manifests itself differently:
- your child seems moody and irritable
- it often seems sad or depressed
- your child suddenly has tantrums again
- it wants to make its own decisions
- your child demands your presence much more
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How can I help my child now?
As in all phases of development in children, dealing with loose-toothed puberty requires a fair amount of patience.
Maybe even more than you've had to spend so far. Your child doesn't react so erratically or impulsively because he wants to annoy or challenge you, but because he is unsure and doesn't know what he wants.
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On the one hand, it wants to do things itself because it is in a phase of autonomy.
So one moment he can send his mother and father out of his room in a rage and the next moment, when the door isn't even closed from the outside, he calls for his parents. The child is torn inside and overwhelmed by his feelings.
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It is very important that you take your child seriously, no matter how unimportant the reason for his or her breakdown or outburst seems to be. Because your child feels so much in this moment.
Don't try to suppress his anger or sadness. Also, resist the urge to get carried away by the outburst of anger. Don't react angrily to your child's anger. Stay calm. Just be there. Let him express his feelings. Just make sure it doesn't hurt itself or others.
And listen to him. All too often, we adults get lost in endless arguments, trying to explain or downplay things. But that doesn't help your child. Don't argue with him in such a situation. It won't listen to you. Just listen and be there.
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And don't take your child's reactions personally. It doesn't want to annoy you or upset you, it just wants to find out what it feels. If it sends you out of its room, then get out of the room. If it wants you to stay, even if it screams that at you, then stay. This is the best way to help him cope.
Something important at the end:The information and tips in this article are suggestions only. Every child is different and reacts in their own way. It is therefore important that you listen to your child and find out which path is best for you.
