Need Reassurance: Boy Turned 2, Help!

Sounds like he is bored. And at 2, it is difficult to sit for a long time. I have two active children, who wouldn't sit still at 2 either, my son especially. He was off exploring, didn't want to sit with the group. He's 4 now, and the teacher says that he follows the instructions!

Also, I was that way even in 1st grade and my mom said it was due to boredom.

My son is now 3.5 and will now sit at circle time in preschool, but he is the same as your boy in all aspects. I really did think it was my parenting, but i do see it in a lot of 2yo's that are more independent and bore easily. I am glad now that my son was more independent and enjoys the things that make him different than other kids. I don't think my son is exceptional or advanced in any way, he just has his own interests (and sitting for story time was hardly his way of having fun when he was a curious 2yo!). I am very proud that he does sit now (w/ some urging on some days) at 3.5, and to be honest I did think he could have been an ADD candidate back when he was 2, but nobody else thought so, so that was reassuring. It gets so much better as time goes by, you will be amazed at how much changes from 2 to 3! GOOD LUCk too, w/ new baby, my son was totally turned off by my daughter's arrival but he LOVES HER SO MUCH NOW, it's so great having 2! xoxo

My son is only 20 months but there is no way he would do any of that. I think it is typical for a 2 year old to be all over, especially if he just turned 2. Also boys are SO active and he probably is bored. Maybe gradually get him to sit for story time. Work on sitting for 3 minutes, then 5 and so on. You could also practice at home. Also during story time provide him with a manipulate to keep his hands busy.

Sounds to me like the teacher (or storyteller) isn't stimulating him enough. But my soon-to-be 2yo is just the same. I have a daycare of my own and struggle to keep him same part of the house as everyone else. Take advantage of this though and teach him as much as you can. Mine is potty trained and say and read his letters, shapes, numbers and colors.

My son is 2 and he is the only kid in story hour wandering around. He won't sit by me and his 3 1/2 year old sister. I continue to go because his sister enjoys it so much. Sometimes I stand at the door and let him play in the toy/puzzle area of the library. That way, I can keep an eye on both. Sometimes I can get him to sit for a little bit longer before he starts wandering. I tell him to sit still and he just gives me this look, like are you talkin to me? He can be so independent. His sister went through a similar phase, but she wasn't quite as disruptive to the other kids. I like the suggestion someone else made of signing him up for an open gym somewhere.

Sounds pretty normal to me but since one of my sons has special needs I would be inclined to get him checked out through Early Intervention to make sure nothing else is going on. You mentioned that he does this for all classes, not just storytime. The way you parent does have something to do with this, i.e. does he have structure at home that he is able to follow? That being said, kids are very unique and each one learns and interacts differently. My older son had a stroke and has issues from that but I've come across several autistic kids and ones with other developmental issues that are much more subtle so don't feel like you need to brush it off if it's bothering you. Trust your instincts...but please don't think I'm saying there is something wrong. I personally would rather get things checked out and know one way or the other if his behavior is truly typical. You know your child best.

I have to agree with Regina, that maybe he just doesn't like story time all that much or at least not for that long. My boys are not that big into story time, as they'd just assume choose their own books at home to be read. (We still do them sometimes just to be social.) That he can focus on certain toys and things he likes is a good sign and means he probably doesn't have a focusing issue, but rather just doesn't choose to be excited about story time for that long like any 2 year old. My second son is 24 months and he doesn't like staying in groups. He's a strong willed independent one, but also a typical 24 month old like that. They are too young to be extremely structured and they need that independent play anyway. 2-3 PICTURE books is all a young 2 year old can be expected to be engaged through and most story times are 30 minutes long. Many responses seem to say and I know we all like to think of our kids as brilliant as they come from our own genes, but kids are kids and because they are bored with something doesn't mean they are better than or more brilliant than other kids. Just like adults, kids all have different interests and they will more easily be engaged in and learn that which interests them. I don't want to offend anyone in saying this, but at the same time, parents get caught up sometimes and need to remember that kids need to be allowed to be kids without our expectations of their brilliance much less the spirit of competition because what comes with it is belittling others. I think he sounds like a great 2 year old and loves to explore and learn new things and you are doing great helping him along with it. I'd keep doing as you are doing with bringing him to story times to be with others and letting him wander on his own or not sit with the group when he wants to keep it fun while exposing him to new people and activities. :)

Please don't assume that it's boredom and that all kids who do this are destined to be brillant. This is NORMAL behavior. Sounds like this has more to do with maturity and likes/dislikes. My daughter was not able to attend to a story at story time because she simply didn't like story time. Also, she wasn't as mature as the other kids who actually sat and listened like they were supposed to. I noticed a huge change by the time she was 3. She can sit and listen to her teacher during story time just like most of the other kids.

Also, we stopped going to story times, we started again when she showed more interest and maturity. Try other things in the meantime. Maybe an open gym or something less structured for the time being.

my son is the same way. there can be a whole room full of toys and he will take the batteries out of the remote and put them back in with a screwdriver. At kindercare they actually moved him up to the next class way way early because they said he was bored with the class he was in. Maybe we both just have really really smart children who are just bored and need more stimulation. Doctors in the making we hope.