My son talks non-stop....

[RebeccaE1975]

My son talks non-stop since he started talking.  I was the same way as a kid and my father would constently say to shut-up, you have diarriah of the mouth, verbal garbage and so on.  I remember as a kid talking to my dad or mom having a good time and then bam...I'd get the shut-up or my mother's nicer version of lets be quiet for awhile.  I never had issues having friends, but got in trouble a lot for talking at school.  I even talk more when I am tired like my son.  I grew up with major social anxiety and I still have it today.  I avoid social settings at all cost.  I don't want this for my son.  My father has already tried his comments on my son.  Of course I forbid it...but my nephew has complained to my mother and he is 11 that he gets annoyed by my son.  I see it with strangers..he talks to anyone that will listen and my daughter struggles to get a word in and even snaps.  I have NO idea how to handle this and I do not want to crush his self esteem like my parents did to me.  I also want him to be socially open and to have friends, etc.  Does anyone have any ideas? I don't believe he has ADD or anything...or maybe he does??? I just don't know what else to do and I already told him once to shut-up and it will always be a regret of mine.  My husband is constantly complaining about it to him and we fight about how he handles him.  Ideas, PLEASE

[tompaterson]

I think Mark gave some excellent advice. Maybe your son talks a lot because he just wants to talk about everything under the sun that he has seen heard, etc for the day. I wouldn't think to discourage him either, doing that could have him retract into his own shell and that could be worse. Just my two cents though.

[MarkLakewood3367]

Teaching self control via marital arts is a great idea as long as you know your son won't use it to harm others.

[DD881972]

I agree with Mark. Also, I would recommend you try to have him take  any martial arts lessons. They teach focus, discipline, self-control amount other great things. He'll probably have a hard time at first being quite during the class, but if you help him with consistency, taking him to his katate classes it'll do wonders for him. Also, it's great for self-esteem.
Both of my daughters have been doing Taekwondo for three years. Best decision we ever made.

[specialmom]

That is really good advice from marklakewood.  

[MarkLakewood3367]

First off, I don't necessarily see a child talking a lot as a bad thing.  I would be more concerned with a child who keeps to his/her self.  So, I'm not sure that it is a good idea to discourage this behavior.

On the other hand, if your son talks inappropriately, interrupts others, talks back, etc..., he would be breaking rules for which he should be disciplined.  Discipline helps kids learn self-control.

Socially, I would explain to him how excessive talking may hinder relationships.  I would also role play with him how to talk and have conversations with others in order to make/keep friends.