4 year old DS - strange pacing habit

[upto11]

My 4 year old DS has developed a pacing (well, more like running) back and forth habit in the last month or so. It is often accompanied by fairly odd arm movements (arms held in strange postures). He says he is imagining things whilst pacing/running, e.g. pretending he is in Octonauts/being Nadal playing tennis. Yesterday he was imagining he was building a house! He is easily distracted when doing it and does not mind me asking him to stop for going shopping or something, but it does seem to be a bit of a complusion and is also bcoming more frequent.

Whilst I am pleased he has a good imagination, he does look rather strange when doing it (he starts school in September and I am worried that his classmates may tease him about it) and has also recently started doing this at nursery, instead of playing with his friends (so he says anyway, yet to be confirmed with nursery).

Does anyone else's DC do this kind of thing?

To give a bit of context, DS does have a bit of a history with repetitive movements like this. He was a big arm flapper as a baby/toddler, which then developed into jumping a lot, mainly when excited (he does still do this actually, not to quite the same extent though). I did have concerns about him, ASD related (I have a cousin who has autism), but these have been dismissed by both GP and a community paed. He is social both with children his own age and adults, and apart from these odd movements I have no real concerns about him.

Hi, sounds exactly like my son when he was that age ( and right up to about 6 or so -he's now 9).DS is smart ,articulate,funny and very sociable but has always had a tendency to jump up and down when excited ( has finally grown out of that!) and run up and down when in his imaginary world (usually muttering to himself-eek!). Can't say I was always comfortable with him acting like a loon in front of others, but decided I just had to let him be him! The other kids didn't seem to care. DS still has a huge imagination which now serves him well at school. I would say don't worry.

Thanks for your reply default. It's comforting to know that DS is not the only one doing this.

I'm trying not to worry, but annoyingly I am a natural born worrier and am finding it hard to let go!

I have a 5 year old who does this - and mutters to himself too - it doesn't seem to bother other children, he still likes fancy dress and small world toys and could play all day like this if left to it.
He is also sociable and bright.
Odd maybe but I rather like the children who are happy to be themselves.
I think he will grow out of some of the body movements but can see him muttering to himself right into old age !

Thank you Rosemary. I totally agree about children being themselves. I think part of the problem is that I was bullied at primary school for being different (not different in DS' way) and as a result I am particularly sensitive around this issue. However, this is MY issue and I must trying harder to not project my fears on to DS!

My DS who is eleven has done this from the age of three or four, he is now being assessed for ASD. He was fairly sociable when at preschool , had a best friend etc. but this diminished throughout primary school and his self isolation is now a cause for concern. He paces up and down the playground thinking about his many ideas. He does write amazing stories and the school used to let him walk up and down the corridor when composing them.
Keep an eye on him but try not to worry too much.

Thanks Wiggly. Hopefully it's just a little quirk if DS', but I will indeed keep an eye on him.

If you don't mind me asking, were there any other signs of ASD when your son was 4 ish?

Not that I noticed, although he did like to watch the same film every day, as it was the original king kong film from 1934 and his father is a Director, we just thought he had interesting taste in viewing and was a very creative child! ( the danger of having artists as parents, we expected our children to be unusual, it's convential, rugby playing, non bookish DS1 who surprises us).
With hindsight he had sensory issues, but he never had tantrums, lined toys up, had weird obsessions and he did have a friend so I did not worry.

A bit late, but thank you wiggly.

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone will still read this thread. My daughter is 3 in October and she also does this pacing/running behaviour. She seems to do it to zone out. I've had her evaluated by several people and they don't think she is autistic. I'm worried about her though as I don't want her to have trouble making friends. Upto11 does your son still do this? Can anyone else kept me know what they think?

@Abigail789 very old thread I know, but if you are still.around, how is your DD now?

Hi! I have this. In the afternoon the day before yesterday it started all of a sudden. He’s a very clever and social boy. Current age 2 and half. He trots around in his own world and make little jolty movements with his arms while smiling. He jolts a bit in his own world in the car seat also and at the dinner table. I havent noticed anything else concerning and this just started all of a sudden. It worrying that it happened out of the blue and seems quite a habit. There is a lot going on at the moment so I wonder if he senses that and it’s a coping mechanism or just some kind of imaginative play. Hes too young to really ask and get an answer. His speech is very forward for his age but not enough to get his attention and ask about this. His attention span is very short currently but I’m guessing that is children.