My 6-Year-old Cries All the Time!!!

My son is similar, though, he's typically very easy going and gets along with everyone. But there are phases he has gone through where he cried about everything, and it can be maddening.

I tried what you did - disciplining, talking, taking a break, time outs, etc...and it wasn't working. I had family over often, and I always felt like they were looking at me like I was doing something wrong if my son was acting like this. Drove me crazy! After lots of thought and researching, this is what works for my boy:

I have to make sure he's getting enough attention from me. If I have several days where I'm busy doing something else, he starts to get much fussier and reactive to everything. And, if I change that and make sure to play with him and sit and talk with him about life in general, it seems to make a huge change in his attitude. I don't have to do it all day, constantly. Just enough to give him what he's needing emotionally (and it's lot of fun!). I don't intentionally not give him the attention he needs, but with so many little ones, I sometimes need to readjust myself and make sure I"m giving him enough time.

When he does get upset about stuff, I will hold him and hug him (if he wants it) and we'll talk about it. Previously I would often withhold that type of affection when he was acting like that because I thought it would only encourage that poor type of behavior. I would hug him if he calmed down and behaved more "appropriately". But that was wrong of me. Hugs can do wonders, even in the heat of the moment. And making comments like "you shouldn't be acting like that" or "you don't need to cry about that"...don't help! I don't know if you do that, but I did at first, and it only made it worse.

If hugging doesn't help, he does go to his "cool down" spot and can cry in there. I make it very clear that it's totally fine for him to cry and be upset. Sometimes we just feel that way and there is nothing wrong with it. And, if we are too upset to be around people without yelling and screaming at them, then the right thing to do is to go somewhere privately - get on our bed (or wherever the special spot is...and it's important to not call it time out - call it something else). I try to relate to him and validate his feelings. I never tell him how he should or shouldn't feel. I don't think it helps the situation. It just makes him feel more frustrated. If I'm able to, I will sit in there, and I'll be a listening ear, prompting him to express himself by asking him questions. He does most of the talking at that point. I do not judge or tell him he's wrong for what he's saying or thinking. I just listen and comfort. When he's ready, we go back out and life returns to normal MUCH faster than usual, AND he does it way less often.

With playdates/birthday parties, maybe talk in advance and let him know that if it's too hard for him to behave appropriately (not regularly getting upset) then you'll need to take him back home. Try discussing it in an understanding way, as well as *encouraging him* and telling him you know he can do it - he can make it through with proper behavior. Don't discuss it in any sort of threatening/punishing type of way. It really makes a huge difference. Then if he messes up and needs to be taken home, don't get upset at him. let the consequence do the talking for him. Encourage him again that you know he can do it next time, etc.

Hope that helps a little bit! Good luck.

It is not about 'controlling' his emotions. I mean, not even all adults can do that.
This is about him, not having "coping-skills" for frustrations.
A kid, does not automatically come with inherent coping-skills. A child is not born with it. It is something that is taught.

My 1st 2 thoughts, How much sleep does he get? And what does he eat? those 2 things make my kids very emotional.

My son is about to turn 7 and he also cries instantly, and was always making it out that he was the victim. At school, when playing hand ball, he would never want to be out and would cry and fight with others telling them that they were cheating. The teacher told us that he was bullying at times (in the play yard) and was very emotional, and it was becoming a problem. We talked to the school psychologist. She said she has seen parents take away everything, and the kids do not care (because i was doing like you with stripping priviledges left and right). She talked to my son with me and we worked it out that if he each day of good behavior, he would get something (my son loves money, so we agreed on a quarter a day). We did that for a few weeks and he really improved at school. We sort of stopped doing that, but he has definitely improved. So basically, try to give him something for not crying for a whole day (and talking about his issues instead). When my kids were little (and still sometimes now), we give them points for good behavior and when they hit 10 points, they get a present. If they misbehave, we threaten with taking a point away. They hate to lose points.

Just some suggestions.

My daughter went a little crazy at 6yrs old. I don't know what caused it, but she would go from rude to crying in a snap. We had no home or school changes and I tried everything I could think of, but nothing reached her. Finally, I had the school counselor talk to her. It helped to have someone step into the middle of it and give us both some ideas for working issues out. Finally, we decided together that if she could control her frustration/anger/whatever it was, we would paint her room whatever color she wanted. It worked! We picked out some paint squares at Home Depot and taped them to the wall so that it was a visual reminder to her and come Spring Break that year, we were painting a bedroom!

Hang in there. It will even out some and then everything will go crazy again. She is 11 now and hormonal as ever!!!!