This problem has been bothering me for a while and I dont know where to begin, or even how to word it into a question. It feels like a problem in my head but when I start to write it down I feel like...its typical (maybe?) ..anyways, browsing through some questions about kids I finally have the courage to ask ..My 7 year old son is constantly acting...like someone else, other than himself. He used to act like is year older than him cousin ..and we had to tell our son..Dont act like him , be yourself..constantly...he gets impressed by people very easily and then he starts acting like them. He, acts like the teacher from Magic School Bus. (he makes her voice up and everything) , he acts like His own teacher, (a very nice lady with slightly nasal sound)...he plays school with his sister and acts like his teacher. lately he is ALWAYS acting like a female character. At first it was annoying..we would have to constantly tell him to Be Himself, act like yourself, dont copy people, etc. Its not just the voice, its hand gestures, walking, and what not. He copies so much that it has become his habit..he sounds like a girl when he talks. I dont want other kids to make fun of him, he is only 7 years old.
any advice on the issue would be much appreciated.
thanks
You may have a budding actor or mimic. Annoying, to you and probably others but celebrated in a theatrical family. What some families consider a problem is lauded by other families. Go easy on him - he is being himself.
Wow, I'm with both Doris Day and Odd1... the first thing I thought was "she's gotta get that kid into an acting class!" (I took drama for 3 years in high school and loved it.) He needs an acceptable way to imitate and mimic-- it's actually a skill, although I know it's annoying the dickens out of you. :)
Find something through your local parks and rec or children's theater... even let him write plays. Take him to children's theater and get him in a space so he can channel that proclivity in the right direction. As for peers-- they'll correct him all on their own... don't worry about that!
Sounds like it's time to get him in an acting class that will assign him a male role. He can't make his voice sound like a male's, so he chooses a female role to play, one where he can squeak his voice high.
I actually think you have a budding actor on your hands. He probably will continue to do this in an inappropriate way if you don't find an appropriate outlet. My uncle was a natural born mechanic and took stuff apart all of the time to see how it worked. He eventually learned how to put them back together, but it was a tough road for a while because he sneaked into places and "borrowed" their stuff in order to do it. Of course, that was 60 years ago, but still... you have to find an outlet for things that are this strong in a child's personality, or you will all go through some suffering over it.
Find him an acting class~
He sounds theatrical! Any chance you could get him in some kids' acting classes, do you have any community youth theater groups in your area? Maybe if he had an outlet for this particular interest he wouldn't be doing it all the time.
Definitely help to mold this trait in a positive way. Theatre, acting, etc.
Why shouldn't he copy people while he's playing pretend?
The only thing I would do is this: When he starts bringing his acting/pretend play to the dinner table or when he is talking to you about serious stuff, stop and say, "Mrs. Frizzle, I'd like to talk to my son for just a few minutes. Can you please give us a moment in private?"
Or, just say "Son, no Mrs. Frizzle at the dinner table."
Time to get him involved in a youth theater group. I don't honestly see any of this as a problem, I have a friend whose daughter is the same way, so she put her in the local theater starting at the age of 5. He's not acting like his female teacher because his voice isn't deep enough, and you will eventually have to come to accept that acting is not gender-related. Actors act, it's what they do, they don't usually discriminate based on gender. In the meantime, have him start writing plays himself, encourage him to create his own characters instead of just imitating people. If you live near Chicago, I have a friend very involved in the theater, including youth theater, there and I can get you in touch with her. She would love to have a kid like yours in her class!
i can see how this might be annoying, but i actually think it's a pretty wonderful trait. it not only demonstrates a wonderful imagination, i think it also shows that you've got a kid with a deep well of empathy.
i don't think i'd interfere with this at all, other than to look into a children's theater group with which to get him involved. maybe from time to time give a gentle 'oh, mrs teacher lady? i'm missing my son othello. could you ask him to show up for a while and spend a little time with me?'
:) khairete
S.
I think he is actually being normal, he is an actor in the making!! I think you are putting too much emphasis on this, and you will be stifling who he is becoming. Just because he makes silly voices doesn't mean that kids will make fun of him. He's only 7. If he does get made fun of, he will figure out for himself when it is appropriate to act like that, and when it is not.
Hi, S.:
He is himself. If other kids make fun of him, that will be his consequence. The issue is that his actions bother you. You need to understand what bothers you about his acting.
Stop trying to control him.
Good luck.
D.
I have always believed that who we are is a combination of who we know, what we see and hear. That being said, I think he's fine. I bet if you were to ask Jim Carey or Jack Black what they were like at 7, they would describe how your son is. I wouldn't stifle what he does, but at the same time, definitely encourage gently who HE is.. how HE feels, etc.... He sounds like a very imaginative child and that's a good thing! :)
I say the same--don't stunt his growth! Kids will tease no matter what. If not this, thin his ears, his gait, his hair color...
My little great neice was very thin and wanted to dance ballet. My neice put in ballet. The teachers loved her. My Southern, black family felt she was too thin (they fattened her up) now she has lost her 'line' and looks foolish in the class.
Support him!
There's a time and place for everything.
If he wants to become an impressionist (ever hear of Rich Little?), he can certainly practice sounding like other people.
But he can't do it all the time and everywhere.
In some contexts some people would consider that his imitations would be mocking people.
Try positive reinforcement when he's being his original self.
If he's impressed by someone - talk with him about what it is he likes so much and the upside and downside of being that person.
Being Robin Williams works fine for Robin, but if everyone acted like that all the time the novelty would certainly wear off - plus coming from others that behavior is often downright annoying.
Acting/drama classes are a great idea.
See if you can get him some material/shows of impressionists.
(And this is work because you have to also see the people who are being copied so you can tell how well the impressionist is mimicking the original. You have to know how Jimmy Stewart or John Wayne sounds in order to know if the impression is good or not.)
