What is Normal?

[lislyn]

My step son who is 9 years old is exceptionally advanced for his age scholastically he speaks and thinks above this age level, he is also in GATE program at school. But at the same time he has some strange behaviors. He can never be quiet while playing with toys or video games even if both have sound effects already he will make his own “weird” noises. Even if he is watching others play video games. Or he will run around the house acting like the character he was playing in the game. I hear his making giggly, squealing, and raspy, airplane or shooting noises and I don’t believe he realizes it or how annoying it is. He also talks excessively anywhere and makes strange faces to go along with his ideas. It’s almost to the point where he doesn’t seem normal to me. His tone of voice is loud, (we’ve had his hearing checked) sometime it sounds monotone or robotic. When he gets to laughing he doesn’t stop it is also in excess sometimes to the point of coughing and vomiting (after eating meal). I don’t know of any other child who acts like he does, none of my own (and I have one who was diagnosed ADHD many years ago) It is silly and annoying yet at times he can be very polite in well behaved. He is not an angry child although his little attitude will get checked (an age thing I’m sure) but in the meantime I am going stir crazy listening to his “weird” noises and immature behavior. He has been in several sports but shows a lack of leadership and is very awkward; he is big and tall for his age as well. He doesn’t lack attention from his peers or family members, he does receive more then I believe a child needs (gifts or privileges) especially from Grandmother. Please tell me what your thoughts are, my patience is wearing thin when we go through spells like this, is there a possibility he just has a unique personality or something more? He has been doing this for the last five years I’ve known him so I know its not that he is at an age level in his life where all boys act this way. I grew up with brothers and male relatives and I don’t recall any of them acting like this at this degree. Some advice or insight will be helpful.

[babygirl6152]

How about channeling some of that energy into chores. washing the dog. dusting, Use that creativity: get his little hands busy decorating Christmas cards for the nursing home/
The jr hi bunch of kiddos in Honors classes loved to come by and visit me in the library- The didn't want to read, they just wanted out of class since they finished their work early. I put them to work- gave them a job and we were both happy.

[Encephalomalcia]

My first born girl, now age 11, was advanced for her age.  She was correcting my grammar at age 2.  She was extremely active and sounds a lot like your step-son.  I had her in early childhood education and they sent me to a seminar on raising smart children.  What I found out was so helpful and I could then understand.  Smart children are harder to raise.  They are more active, more speeded up.  They think more.  They challenge you more.  Of course, they do because they are smart and can.  My daughter settled down more when she turned 10, but it was extremely hard up until the age of 10.  I would get her ready for school in the morning and when I went to work, I would actually shake for an hour because my nerves were so uptight.  Then after an hour, I would calm down (that is how active she was in the mornings and how much she challenged me).  I think you will be seeing a change soon.  It gets easier as they get older.  My daughter has straight A's in school and she does not even study for tests.