I don't know how to even explain this besides my 4 year old DS is just all.over.me.all.the.time. Climbing all over me, bumping up against me, running into me, having to sit right next to me (but not still, never still). He does it with H too but more often with me. And it's not climbing all over humans, he's climbing all over the place. The couch, the chairs, he just never stops moving. How is he ever going to sit in school? I'm just at my wits end with this honestly and I am practically crawling out of my skin when he won't leave me alone and stop touching me. Does anyone else's kid do this?? We don't really have a big house or a lot of space to climb and be active. I imagine he probably has a lot of energy to let out and maybe he isn't being given enough opportunities to do that since it's cold and we're inside a lot, but I guess I can try to take him out more. Any other ideas? I feel like such a terrible mom but I just want him to get the f*ck off me. And we're not having any more kids so he has no one to play with and probably just wants the attention He is in daycare 40 hours a week so its really just a night/weekend issue but its still annoying AF.
Post by purplepenguin7 on Jan 24, 2021 20:45:34 GMT -5
My daughter (2) does this so much that she will kick us in face because she’s climbing and squirming so much. I don’t have any real advice but she is being evaluated for OT soon (for other sensory reasons but I think the constantly moving and contact is part of it). The other thing I would mention is, do you have a nugget or maybe a pikler triangle for climbing? We have a small house so our nugget is tucked away in the corner. We don’t always take it out but I’m going to start making more of an effort because I think it helps. They are on “back order” now but will ship before the end of April, and probably earlier.
Yep, my 6.5yo does this. And he’s like 4’3” and 60 pounds, so it legit hurts when he treats me as a jungle gym. Most of the time he just wants physical contact (he’s a hugger and snuggler) but I swear sometimes it’s like he’s trying to hurt me.
purplepenguin7, thank you for the suggestions! I feel like he's too big for a Pikler triangle but would have LOVED that when he was 2. The Nugget does look fun and he'd enjoy it, just don't know if I want to spend that much. But if it helped me be a little less ragey it might be worth it, lol.
Post by pinkplasticdoll on Jan 24, 2021 21:02:55 GMT -5
Why does she use me a GD jungle gym? She also grabs her arm and rubs her up and down it, this absolutely sends me I to orbit. I hate the constant climbing and touching , it makes me want to cry because I hate it so much. I have ebf my kids and that doesn't bother me one bit but all the touching and climbing on me really bothers me.
Post by icedcoffee on Jan 24, 2021 21:09:23 GMT -5
Yes. This is my life with my 1 year old. He thinks I’m a slide or something. And he only does it to me. It’s infuriating. I’ve had to start sitting on a kitchen chair if I want him to leave me alone. Meanwhile he absolutely never crawls on my H. It’s constant.
The last few weeks I’ve said to my H a few times that maybe EBF my kids was a mistake because they are like overly bonded to me. [Warning: This is meant as a tongue in cheek joke with my H and not a slam against anyone here on how they fed their kids. please don’t read into it.]
They went through that phase. They still tried especially if we were on the floor don’t get get me wrong, but most of the time I wouldn’t let them or I put a stop to it. So don’t feel bad if you do that.
My son is sensory seeking and did OT because he always had to touch everything.
pinkplasticdoll and icedcoffee its funny you both mention the EBF thing lol. I EBF for quite awhile and never felt the rage I feel that I do when he's climbing all over me. That didn't bother me at all!
They went through that phase. They still tried especially if we were on the floor don’t get get me wrong, but most of the time I wouldn’t let them or I put a stop to it. So don’t feel bad if you do that.
My son is sensory seeking and did OT because he always had to touch everything.
OK so I've heard the term sensory seeking before and kinda sorta knew what it was about but I just read a few info graphics (lazy, but I'll read more later) but this is DS to a T. Hmm.
Ah yup. My four year old is like this. She will calm and cuddle for a bit (like five min?) and then she’s back at it. The couch cushions are often pulled off, she’s leaping from couch to chair, she’s lying next to me and kicking me with her feet, etc. Always moving.
She seems really good at daycare, though. Sits, listens, does her class chore, etc. I think she just has excess energy to burn. I’m not too worried about school. I am grateful that she’s been in daycare since birth because she understands school and different rules. I’d be more worried at this point otherwise!
joy, my DS has been in daycare since 6 weeks so I think he does understand school rules, thankfully. I don't typically get any reports of bad behavior from them. So maybe he will be fine in school. Although lately he has been telling me that daycare is "a lot of work" so having to keep it together all day must be hard lol.
Post by AdaraMarie on Jan 24, 2021 21:45:32 GMT -5
My kids were both like this when they were younger, especially dd1, who also has done ot to help with sensory seeking among other things.
For school concerns, my dd had tools/accomodations related to sensory seeking behavior, so if it gets to that point they will be able to work with him!
Post by sillygoosegirl on Jan 24, 2021 21:47:32 GMT -5
Yep, my 6-year-old is like this too. Pretty sure it's completely normal. I think most younger elementary school kids have difficulty sitting still in school. We didn't evolve to sit at desks...
Post by purplepenguin7 on Jan 24, 2021 21:47:52 GMT -5
purplepenguin7, thank you for the suggestions! I feel like he's too big for a Pikler triangle but would have LOVED that when he was 2. The Nugget does look fun and he'd enjoy it, just don't know if I want to spend that much. But if it helped me be a little less ragey it might be worth it, lol.[/quote]
Ahh sorry, I actually don’t have a pickler (no space) but they seem really popular with the 3-5 year olds. With the Nugget, they are a bit pricey but so versatile, from a climbing ramp, a slide, just stacked up, or even as a cozy reading/screen time/quiet corner. 4 is a good age for it too because you’ll have many more years of use possibilities.
Post by minniemouse on Jan 24, 2021 21:59:39 GMT -5
Oh yes. My 7 year old has been like this basically since she was born. Always has to be sitting or climbing on me but doesn’t sit still. She just loves to hug and cuddle. It seems like it’s more so the last 10 months but it could be just because we are together more. Or it could be how she deals with the stress of the pandemic and all the routines changing. Who knows. She does fine she school. No more wiggly than any other kid in her class.
DS (3) does the same thing. He also runs full speed at me to give me a hug, and he's not small. One of these days he's going to actually knock me over!
FWIW, he was EFF and still wants nothing to do with H and only climbs all over me. Though with the lock down in the spring, he spent way more time with me (teacher) than he did with H (IT and couldn't work from home), so maybe that has something to do with it?
This was my youngest, exactly. It was beyond frustrating and annoying, especially ages 2-4. It magically got much, much better at 5 though and at almost 6 is not a big deal!
Ohhh yeah! My nearly 5-year-old treats us like a jungle gym. We do wrestle with her quite a bit, so I get that she has trouble when is not the time for it. I usually don’t mind, but today, my back was killing me, so I had to put a stop to it. She’s good at school, though. She’s definitely a physical kid, but generally gets the time and place for it.
A, 5 years old, has taken to following me around RIGHT behind me. Nose to my arse. I fucking hate it. I told her "stop doing that or I'll back up and step on you!" Maybe it's mean, but kids need to learn to respect physical boundaries.
Yes. My boys are so physical. The older one wants to be physically close to me all the time and the 4 year old climbs/jumps all over me and everything at home, but in a less snuggly way. He acts the opposite at school compared to home though. I’m an introvert and I have to tell my family I need space and quiet sometimes! DH is very physical with them, like with wrestling and stuff so I always say, Daddy is your jungle gym, mommy is not a jungle gym!
DS (3) does the same thing. He also runs full speed at me to give me a hug, and he's not small. One of these days he's going to actually knock me over!
FWIW, he was EFF and still wants nothing to do with H and only climbs all over me. Though with the lock down in the spring, he spent way more time with me (teacher) than he did with H (IT and couldn't work from home), so maybe that has something to do with it?
It's my teeth I worry about. DD is so enthusiastic in her climbing up on me that she often ends up accidentally head-butting me in the mouth. I'm surprised I still have all my teeth. I'm also surprised she hasn't learned not to do it. She often does it hard enough to make herself cry, which SEEMS like it would provide a strong incentive to be more careful. But apparently not.
DS (3) does the same thing. He also runs full speed at me to give me a hug, and he's not small. One of these days he's going to actually knock me over!
FWIW, he was EFF and still wants nothing to do with H and only climbs all over me. Though with the lock down in the spring, he spent way more time with me (teacher) than he did with H (IT and couldn't work from home), so maybe that has something to do with it?
It's my teeth I worry about. DD is so enthusiastic in her climbing up on me that she often ends up accidentally head-butting me in the mouth. I'm surprised I still have all my teeth. I'm also surprised she hasn't learned not to do it. She often does it hard enough to make herself cry, which SEEMS like it would provide a strong incentive to be more careful. But apparently not.
Yes, yes. My teeth have been tested! One time, she jumped straight up and her head hit my chin. My jaw slammed down on the side of my tongue. It took out a significant amount of flesh. Much blood. I feel terrible, but I screamed at her. “I’m okay, Mommy!” “Well, I am NOT!” Sigh.
DS (3) does the same thing. He also runs full speed at me to give me a hug, and he's not small. One of these days he's going to actually knock me over!
FWIW, he was EFF and still wants nothing to do with H and only climbs all over me. Though with the lock down in the spring, he spent way more time with me (teacher) than he did with H (IT and couldn't work from home), so maybe that has something to do with it?
It's my teeth I worry about. DD is so enthusiastic in her climbing up on me that she often ends up accidentally head-butting me in the mouth. I'm surprised I still have all my teeth. I'm also surprised she hasn't learned not to do it. She often does it hard enough to make herself cry, which SEEMS like it would provide a strong incentive to be more careful. But apparently not.
Sub nose for teeth and this is us. He head butts me and then cries because it hurts and then I have to comfort him while wondering if this is the time he finally broke my nose...
Post by SusanBAnthony on Jan 25, 2021 8:09:11 GMT -5
Yes. Still. The most practical solution I found for my kids is a mini trampoline. They are teen and teen age now and we have graduated to an adult one but still have one. They currently have it drug into the middle of our living room. Sometimes it lives in one of their bedrooms and they launch themselves from it onto the bed. I still tell them to go jump 100 times when they are being like this.
My kid just turned 9 and she still (STILL) wants to be rightnexttome at all times. She's an only with serious FOMO so I get it. But we have a large sectional couch that can fit easily 8 people and she is TOUCHING ME. I don't mind when she first wakes up and wants to cuddle on my lap (my days) or I'm reading to her or vice versa and she wants to lean... but all the times in between I just want to scream "STOP TOUCHING ME" lol.
But I am also one of those weird people that likes to be totally still at times. If someone is touching me and they are fidgeting or moving their leg or whatever it drives me bonkers.