What is considered hyper?

[Anonymous]

I am hoping that Seth is just feeling happy these days but lately he seems almost hyper. DH asked me a couple of weeks ago if I thought he was and I just laughed and said he was being a normal toddler but now I am wondering too. He is wound up all the time. He will run down the sidewalk in our neighborhood squealing and out into the road (scared to death he is going to get ran over, trying to encourage backyard play), he will get his sippy and bang on things like the washing machine and the other day he was jumping up trying to get the blind cords and laughing hysterically. I could go on and on but you get the idea. A neighbor even commented how he “sure gets tickled with himself”. Is this normal?

I am thinking he may be more wound up at home lately because he is not getting enough stimulation at school. He is still in the crawler room there at 16 months. He is getting moved to the one year old room the first of June. He and another girl are being held back until they get a new room open. His teacher told me he is bored in there now. I talked to the director this morning about seeing if he can at least get a few hours a day of more structured activities until he does move. Do you think this could be it?

[Anonymous]

Well if that’s hyper, so is Owen!!! He has this new ball toy thingy that a friend gave us that kind of blows the balls in circles and then they go flying across the room – he hits the button on that thing at least 15 times in a row, screams “Uh-oh!!!” as loud as he can and chases the balls around the kitchen. Last night I laughed the first 5 times and then was ready to put him to bed because he was making ME tired!!

I was actually asking Pat the other night if he thought he is ADD because of the way he is so wacky going from one thing to the next. I really think it’s just normal toddler stuff – they are at an age where they are understanding so much more about the way things work and how things (and people) react, testing limits, etc. I think that has to be so much of the reason for it. At least that’s what I hope!

[Anonymous]

Thank you, Laura. That make me feel better. Are you talking about the Playskool busy ball popper? That is one of Seth’s favorite toys. He also likes/has the Fisher Price Ball blast. He is literally obsessed with balls. In fact, this morning they were taking pictures at school and I waited while he had his done and he saw where they had a soccer ball in the toy box so he picked it up and would not put it down so now all of his pics will have a ball in them… Oh well, that’s my boy!

[Anonymous]

just sounds like a happy kid. my 11 year old molly seemed to get into absolutely everything. she would wander around during church, but very quietly. if i tried to contain her, it would turn into a major battle, so i just let her wander—-i’m sure some people didn’t approve—but who cares. i used to think that maybe she was a hyperactive child. even my mother commented that i had never had one like her. the school sent me a letter last year telling me that they had tested molly and she meets the criteria to be considered gifted and talented. she wasn’t hyper, just extremely smart, i guess she must have felt a need to check everything out.

[Anonymous]

Wow – that’s great Christine. Maybe we just have a genius on our hands!

Tiffany – I think that’s what it is! He got it the other day from a friend of my husband’s and he is just totally fascinated with the thing. It was used so there wasn’t a box but it is a playskool toy so I bet that’s it. Of course he also tries to put other things in it, like crayons and pretzles, and doesn’t understand why it won’t work when he does that.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Christine! Seth sounds just like your Molly (BTW that’s awesome she tested gifted!). I know what you mean too about the approval thing. I always think all of the neighbors driving by our house wonder why in the world I can not contain my son!

Laura, that is too funny. It has to be the same toy! Seth is always clogging his up too and then getting upset because it will not work. DH even found his watch in it one morning!!!

[Anonymous]

Tiffany,

I worried a lot about hyperactivity with my first child. From birth (actually even in the womb) she was (still is) a non-stop mover. My friend is a head start teacher and she sees lots of kids. She came to visit once and remarked, “Boy, she’s really kinetic!” Tell me about it!!This kid couldn’t sit still for anything. She was always climbing on things, jumping off of things, running, bouncing, rolling, doing flips. I thought, my goodness, what will happen when she goes to school?

Well, she started pre-school last August, and she is doing just fine. The teachers say she is active, loves to play with the boys, loves gym time, etc. BUT, she can sit still when it is required. She has learned to write her name, and draw. She sits reasonably still for story time. She is absolutely no problem at all at school despite her high energy level.

Now at Seth’s age, I don’t think Liza ever sat for more than a few minutes at a time. Even up to the age of three I still had to strap her into a booster seat to keep her still at meal time! And while she is improving on her ability to sit still when needed, she is still a very active child. Her favorite activities all involve movement: dancing, playing ball, running, climbing, etc. I think it’s wonderful!! She’s fun, fun, fun to be around!

I wouldn’t worry about Seth. As he gets older you’ll probably notice an increasing ability to sit and do busy work like puzzles, coloring, looking at books, etc. I never thought it would happen with Liza but she’s right where she should be academically and hasn’t fallen behind at all due to her high activity level.

[Anonymous]

Oh, I forgot to add that being bored at daycare sounds like a real possibility. I worked at a daycare center and the baby room is no place for an active toddler. He’ll probably be a lot less wound up once he is getting more stimulation in the toddler room. Right now he probably feels like an uncaged animal when he gets out of there, and he needs to expend all that bottled up energy once he gets home. ndrose2006-4-25 16:15:31

[Anonymous]

Christine, Seth is always moving – I like the word “kinetic”. He almost did a flip over the bathtub last night and I did not mention that he has already stuck himself in the foot with a thumbnail and cut three of his fingers getting into stuff (on different occasions). I guess I should focus on what you said about your daughter- that he is so fun to be around and makes people happy even if he does wear me out in the process!

Thanks for your input about the daycare situation although it makes me sad to think he may feel like a caged animal in the crawler room. I’m afraid you are right though- his teacher told me yesterday that they were out in the bye bye buggy and he was trying so hard to get out because he wanted to go to the playground with the big kids… Maybe he will get to move up sooner. I have also been looking at some Gymboree classes on line today. I think that will be a good outlet for him.

[Anonymous]

Sorry if I made you feel bad about the baby room. It just hit me because I remember so clearly what the baby room was like. The older kids wanted to play, play, play, but they were held back by all the babies. My two older ones had a similar experience at home because when Myles was born his reflux was so bad that I spent all day feeding him and cleaning up puke. Then winter came; and they were cooped up in the house with nothing to do but watch mommy take care of the baby. I felt so, so bad for them, but just like with Seth in the baby room, it was only temporary. Spring is coming. Myles is getting bigger and his reflux is improving, so the girls are getting out more and getting more attention. Seth will be o.k. for a few more weeks in the baby room, especially if you let him “let loose” once he gets home.

Liza has hurt herself so many, many times with her wild antics. She just bashed her eye last night and went to school with a little black eye this morning. But, she sure is fun and I’m so happy she is active. If that’s what brings her joy, then she should just move, move, move. People who visit us often say they are exhausted by the time they leave, and all they do is watch!!

Seth sounds like a fun, happy little guy. He’ll probably always be active like Liza which is great. He’ll keep you young!!

ndrose2006-4-25 16:16:26

[Anonymous]

Tiffany- I enrolled Kayleigh in a gymnastics program to help with her activity level. It is a parent/toddler group somewhat like the gymboree classes but I think a bit more room to move around. Kayleigh absolutely loves the rock wall and the huge trampoline. Just another idea for you if the gymboree class doesn’t work out. BTW I’ve always considered sippy cup banging a prelude to musical talents. Gotta love that distinctive sound! Good luck

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