My son is 3 1/2 years old and he is definatley an active child,he has his moments of loundess but it is multiplied by 20 when we have company in our house or go over to our friends house. When we tell him to calm down, he just looks at us as if he almost laughing at us!! Why is he being like this???
He's 3, that's why. The moment company comes into the house little boys go nuts. He just doesn't know what to do with himself, he's very excited and doesn't know how to handle it.
I'll take mine into a room alone for a minute and read him a short story on my lap or sing a song or something to help him relax. Then we go back and join the party. Telling him to calm down is like telling him to drive to the store, he can't he doesn't know how.
Overloaded/overwhelmed by too much going on around him
and/or
confused by multiple conversations/activities all around him
and/or
making sure he's the center of attention
and/or
Doesn't understand what "calm down" means
and/or
is doing what comes naturally.
Because he is excited and 3 1/2!
He's wanting your attention, likely. It's pretty common for kids who are used to having mom all to themselves (or just the family) to act up when company arrives.
In our house, we have a place kids can go when they want to yell... their room. Any sustained loudness, and we just take our son to his room and remind him that he can come out when he's got all his loud noises out of himself. At 3.5, children can be reminded that "I see people here are trying to talk to each other. When you are being loud, we can't hear each other. You may use your regular (or 'inside') voice with us, or you may be in your room."
Attention-getting behaviors are the ones that nearly always surface when company comes along to distract Mama. If there are other children present, just keep an extra eye out, because sometimes this will manifest as something more than just annoying, as the loudness is.
Oh, and that look on his face? He got your attention, so now he's very delighted! Know,too, that the most lovely kids do this, so don't feel like you're son is exhibiting anything you need to be worried about.:) When they get older, depending on the child, there's more 'look at me' showing off that happens instead of yelling, so if you've got a little ham, prepare for that!
H.
He's probably overstimulated... and 3. Both of my kids do this ( a boy and a girl). I would make short visits more frequently to get him used to new environments and new people. It'll be good experience for him when he gets ready to go to preschool or kindergarten too.
My kids also got much better about this by the time they were about 5. Some of it is just impulse control and maturity.
Good luck!
I send my daughter to her room until she can calm down.
My son did the same thing. I believe it was too much going on for him. It's just the three of us at home and when we go to large gatherings, he talked loud as well. Also, he wanted some attention.
Now he's becoming shy.... Go figure!
He's doing this because he's 3 and immature. He can't calm himself down because he doesn't know how. You can help him calm down and thus begin teaching him how to calm himself down. He'll not be able to calm himself totally by himself for quite awhile tho.
As Hazel W. suggested, his room is a good place to go when he's being wild. Take him there and get him started on a quiet activity. Perhaps put on some music, hold him and talk quietly,or as JoAnn C. suggested quietly read to him until he's calm.
It might be a good idea to have him already in his room when company arrives. That way he misses the increased energy created by greetings.
When you visit at someone else's home talk with him ahead of time about how you expect him to behave. When you notice that he is starting to get a bit wild, stop him, hold him, perhaps take him to another room or go for a short walk outside. Interrupt him with a quiet activity before his energy gets going full force.
My grandson responds well to take a favorite toy and/or lovey with him to visits. IF your son has something with him you can bring his attention to the toy or lovey which could help him calm down. I liked to take paper and markers with me when I took my granddaughter visiting. She settled down when she could draw pictures.
One likely reason for getting wild is to get attention. Here are these people smiling and having fun and he wants to be a part of it. I've found that giving children lots of attention at the beginning helps them be able to then go off and play on their own.
If you can remain calm while you intervene you're more likely to get your son to calm down. Give him some quiet attention getting everyone to notice him and then distract him with a quiet activity.
