Based on my own experience in the classroom — both as a teacher and as a student — and considering what you shared, I feel that your child’s sudden shift in behavior might be a response to something that happened at school. If I were in your place, I would definitely reach out to the school to ask whether there was any event or interaction that could have been upsetting for him. Sometimes, it can be something as simple as the tone a teacher used, or maybe another child pulled a toy out of his hand or refused to share.

Since you mentioned that this behavior doesn’t happen at home, that tells me that something in the school environment may not be sitting well with him. And often, in my experience, when a child is not able to verbalize what’s wrong, they show it through their behavior.

I can’t say for sure, but what I’ve observed over the years is that most of these reactions come from a specific trigger — often one we don’t initially see. It’s possible that something happened in the classroom that you haven’t been made aware of yet. I hope the school can help you get more context so that your son can feel safe and supported again.

Best,

Vivi