Immature 8 year old boy and inappropriate touching (non-sexual)

[GroveGirl33]

My sweet son is on the younger side (May birthday, currently in Second Grade). He does well in school and adults all find him sweet and charming...and they let him get away with completely inappropriate behavior.

When he gets excited, he has a hard time keeping his hands to himself. He doesn't hurt anybody, but I squirm as I watch him inappropriately run toys over shoe salesman, hug kids who ask him to stop and touch various adults and kids in friendly, but unwelcome ways. We've talked with him 1000 times about keeping his hands to himself, and I'm having a hard time determining what else I should be doing. Kids are getting annoyed with him, he'll get up in their faces and yell "Duuuude!" and hug them when they tell him to stop. He'll playfully poke adults on the nose,  belly, wherever. Adults tend to say "Oh he's so cute, I don't mind!" and internally I'm screaming "But he'll never stop if everyone says it's ok!!"

Please tell me he'll grow out of it! It was explainable when he was 5, but with each passing year I don't know what to do!

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

I won't reasure you about this. You are right - it invites limit settting (including discipline) atthe very least. You might also consider having him evaluated by a behavioral health clincian because such behavior can be indicative of a number of concerns.

[GroveGirl33]

Ironically,my pediatrician is one of the recent people to let him get away with this behavior, which prompted this post!  

[GroveGirl33]

Thank you! I will call my pediatrician today.