Is this normal behavior?

[kelltra]

My son is 7 years old. He is very bright and funny. The problem with his behavior is he tends to be physical whenever he is around other children. He has gotten better with this but he has been disciplined in school for wrestling, pinching, kicking and pushing kids. He interrupts adult conversations, he often blurts out inappropriate things, and says he is just trying to be funny. He thinks private parts are  funny. He has hit children in their private parts and just recently he was banned from a child's house because he showed the kids his private part. When I asked him why, he said he was just trying to be funny. If he is around kids who don't listen he will always follow their bad example. He gets very upset if he looses at a game, or if the people he is playing with don't play "right". He likes to tease and joke with people, but if anyone does this to him, he gets very upset. We have taken things away from him, and now we are doing a behaviorl chart. It seems to be working, but I am worried it is working because he spends most of his time in his room since he has been behaving.  His father works and my son will cry and say his dad does not spend time with him. My husband will then come up with a fun thing for him and my son to do, but then my son won't act interested. I don't let him go to friends houses, I am afraid of his behavior or what he might say. My husband thinks this is normal "boy" behavior, I don't. I need to know if it is us as parents who are at fault or if my son's behavior is something I should get checked out.

[margo1011]

This sounds just like my son!!  I got the same response from the Dr.  My son will be very well behaved one day and then boom..........he starts with the 'impulsive' behavior.  He is an only child I believe he does it to get attention (whether good or bad!).  We have increased our limit settings, and each time we go into a situation we may think he may over react or be impulsive we have a 'talk' before entering.  I too get nervouse when he goes to someone's house to play but the other mothers know him and know what our limits are etc.  It's a challenge for sure!!

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

It would be reasonable to have your son evaluated - his level of impulse control is not what would normally be expected at his age.  The recommended approach for impulse control problems of this sort is systematic behavior management, and the chart you are using is a step in the right direction. Read Lynn Clark's book SOS Help for Children, and follow the guidelines he offers. You will see improvment in yur son's behavior.