How do I get DS to stop jumping up and down?

[AngeloMysterioso]

My DS (4 1/2) has this thing where if he’s happy or excited or having fun, he bounces up and down on the spot.

This is a pain for several reasons- one, because the constant thudding will eventually become annoying and/or give us a headache; two, because we live in a fairly old house with old floorboards which are slowly succumbing to the repeated impact of a child pogoing on them and three- we are trying to move house and we don’t want potential buyers to be put off by rickety floorboards but equally would rather not have to shoulder the expense of replacing a bunch of floorboards with all the faffing that entails.

But the problem is, he doesn’t seem to even realise he’s doing it, it’s almost like an involuntary impulse he has. He’s always done it- as a baby, before he could stand he would rock backwards and forwards on his bum and bang his feet on the floor- I called it his happy feet. Then as soon as he could stand and walk it became this bouncing. DH and I will ask him to stop and he’ll say ok, but seconds later we’ll hear the bang bang bang of his feet on the floor. He also will simultaneously shake his arms and hands up and down.

I don’t want to punish him for something that he doesn’t seem to have any control over, but we could really do with phasing out this bouncing thing somehow.

Any suggestions?

Gently OP it sounds like stimming to me.
DS (now 16) used to rock before he could walk, then went onto the jumping and now paces up and down. The pacing is usually when he’s upset or anxious. He was diagnosed with ADHD at 8 but I do have some suspicions he may be on the autistic spectrum (not enough for me to look at diagnosis though)

He's stimming. My DS does this hundreds of times a day. His body needs to do it for him to feel regulated.

Small trampoline may do the trick. Jumping is something he needs to do.

Why wouldn't you look at diagnosis? It loses you nothing but the gains could be huge.

Mini indoor trampoline for now?
Large outdoor trampoline when he is older?

Agree with pp that it might be stimming. Keep an eye out for any other signs of neurodiversity as he develops.

It sounds like it to me too, which I why I started him on the diagnostic pathway for autism at around a year old (there were other traits that made me do this is as well) and I do still feel this way. However we had an assessment with a paediatrician in November and she seemed to think not - although how she came to that conclusion when he barely said a word or interacted with her the entire time we were there I don’t know!

Buy him a trampoline? You can get small indoor ones that are designed for workouts but perfect for bouncy children. I purchased one for my two for the same reasons you listed, our floorboards are very old and I don't trust them. Both kids absolutely love it.

I agree with @Newname71 , sounds like stimming, my DS is autistic and whilst jumping, rocking and waving arms is normal for most excited children, if it's excessive or they're doing it for emotions other than being very excited or happy, I'd have my concerns.

We don’t have space for a trampoline either inside or outside sadly.

Very common in autistic children but see you've already had him assessed. Why don't you just put rugs/mats down? Foam mats are cheap enough, though I have wooden floors and can't imagine jumping works cause them to come loose. You could also get a pair of crocs to be worn only indoors, like slippers. That would cushion the floor and most of the noise.

He’s going through a difficult patch and feels ADHD has ruined his life. I don’t think he’d cope with an ASD diagnosis at the moment. I’ve only just started thinking about the possibility of ASD quite recently.

Mine used to do that, excitedly, and wriggle, sort of dancing about, telling us things that he thought were important. It's not at all unusual. I actually thought it was rather sweet. Other kids do the same.

As puberty approached he became laid back and monosyllabic.

Wait a few years :-), and stop worrying.

Look at his proprioceptive sensory diet and other ways than jumping that can help to regulate him. Things like pushing and pulling activities, weighted blankets etc.

He will likely continue to jump to
some extent though. Rebound boards are smaller than trampolines and can be stored away when not in use, or an old mattress on the floor than can be pushed under a bed or sofa could work too.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/4120584?clickSR=slp:term:indoor%20trampoline:1:691:1

This is less than a meter in all directions by the look of it. For age 3 and up?

Little bounce board here as pp suggested. Quite pricey though

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trampoline-Childrens-Indoor-Integration-Equipment/dp/B08S6XGSRY/ref=sr_1_5?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.xXNxp_jsSYZJg4IU3Tmsi-sDHfr25Q1Kll63vnXnBrL-qs2Ol3OoGmoZ6opg3MgY20Zd2EJXiiVCmVxuzN4T_I0LFLBgN-L4V6iTzsgAqEacC15f3f5HKih3YKwqlFOTwe6rjxO7N7oiPx0HxhhEDLWd0o2M9eM5acL9Afukta_uBcLKOeeR81MyvrjcQM0ANFBd4eDjkSVBjR4EsAfrSdCHNR1FLtIFrjfiM9ibhVENXJvUDjmUKcf_7_RSe-prmcTXAGOXrvaGNJ-1a8FalrDdWTqAqpc3TG4U18WmhNc.LaIf8zTEi6C9w9pUViYL0PUa272uT1DqM9r5wJAf5t8&dib_tag=se&keywords=bounce+board&qid=1715004330&sr=8-5&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.d7e5a2de-8759-4da3-993c-d11b6e3d217f#customerReviews

I’m not worried about the reasons why he does it, I’m worried about the effect on our floorboards and my and DH’s sanity!

Get him a mini trampoline I bet he'll love it. He's a child, let him jump

He needs to do it.

Work out how to tolerate it.

I'm 47 and I still do this sometimes.

Drove my mum mad when I was young.

Not ND.

Buy him a trampoline or similar.

Again- no space for a trampoline. And to be honest when we go to places where there are trampolines he loses interest after a couple of minutes, so I don’t think it would make much difference!

Foam mats will reduce the impact.

You can buy rolls and cut to size.

https://www.efoam.co.uk/acoustic-soundproofing-foam.php?gadsource=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIl4rZp5z5hQMVKpZQBh2XhgrXEAAYAiAAEgIZHfDD_BwE

I did suggest as much to the floorboards but weirdly, they haven’t complied. We’ve had to replace three in the DC’s bedroom and there are several more that are getting decidedly wobbly and croaky.

Could you try a yoga ball?

My two love sitting on theirs, and happily bounce up and down on it and means the needs to stim is relieved.

Doesn't take up too much space, and an added benefit has been increased attention span with drawing / games etc as they sometimes use the yoga ball instead of a chair.

At that age they have a surge of testosterone so you need to take them outside to run it off daily

I remember my DS at that age literally jumping off the walls in the hallway

You can get those mini exercise trampolines for indoors

Why does everything need a diagnosis? Why is every action ADHD or autism?

My DS has done this since birth, he's 10 and it doesn't cause any issues at all.

What's wrong with jumping up and down?

I work with a guy who randomly jumps out of his seat in meetings. Does it cause me to go insane? No. Does he need a diagnosis of ADHD and Autism to make his life easier at 54?