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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Do your 6 y olds do this and what do you do if they do?

20 replies

adelicatequestion · 22/07/2007 22:07

My DS is 6 and seems to lack an understanding of social skills.

He will go up to anyone in the street and start telling them things that they obviously have no interest in - like the fact that he played tennis the night before.

I have told him not to just walk up to people and start talking to them. If he's at any kids clubs he talks all the time and then the leaders get fed up and ignore him or see him as an irritation.

Are there any products or things we can do to make himunderstand a bit more and is this just an immaturity that he will grow out of.

He is a gorgeous boy and very affectionate (sometimes too much) and others have decribed him a very sociable. He can be very "in your face" and i think this puts class mates off as well.

TIA

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Skribble · 22/07/2007 22:14

My 10 yr old is not quite as in your face, but he will ramble on about the most random and boring things to leaders and other people.

Most kids do it, its normal really, my DD is more social aware and can't hold peoples attention.

I can remember stupid things I talked about when I was younger, like telling my auntie that the sweet milk left in the ceral bowl after I had addd a good few spoons of sugar would be ideal for babies like hers .

I would just keep encouraging him to interact with the other kids and gently remind him that sometimes other people don't want to know what he had for his tea last Tuesday . Encourage him to listen to others and ask questions, remind him conversations should be two ways, but I wouldn't get him worried about it he is only young yet.

Skribble · 22/07/2007 22:15

Sorry meant DD is more socialy aware and can hold others attention.

onlyjoking9329 · 22/07/2007 22:15

no advice for you, i have a DS who is the same, he has autism thou.

SlightlyMadSpider · 22/07/2007 22:19

My DDs do the rambling about things that the person they are talkng to don't need/want to know. BUT they are usually rambling to people that they know. At the very least it will be people that we know and have been having a conversation with IYSWIM.

Original poster

adelicatequestion · 22/07/2007 22:20

Thanks Skribble. He is amazingly inquisitive and gets on wel at school. His teachers say he plays well with friends and gets on with people.

His teacher even described him as sensible. I describe him as impulsive (he is always on the go).

OP posts:

Original poster

adelicatequestion · 22/07/2007 22:22

SMS

He will chat to people behind us in the ASDA queue. He does say to them first "can I ask you a question?"!

OP posts:

Aefondkiss · 22/07/2007 22:26

my dd will just about talk to anyone, she will be six very soon, she likes to talk, and it can be funny, but sometimes I cringe, not really sure how to get her to talk less and I keep thinking she will grow out of this stage, she is very friendly, definitely not shy...

PeachesMcLean · 22/07/2007 22:34

When he's older, that could be considered a skill you know...

But just out of interest, is he an only child? I ask this not because there's anything wrong with only children, (my DS, also 6 is an only one) but I wonder if it's got something to do with learning to share? ie, you have to learn to share your toys, you have to learn to share conversation. I remember when I was little being taught to share "air time" with my brother. Mum would say, "right it's your brother's turn to speak". Is learning to listen the same as learning to share? Does it help to approach it like that? [dunno really just guessing emoticon]

Original poster

adelicatequestion · 23/07/2007 21:39

No, he has an older sister and a twin brother.

He has always been slightly more immature than the others, but sociable, bright and is very good at sharing and very thoughtful.

OP posts:

kittywits · 23/07/2007 21:41

My 8 nearly 9 year old ds1 does this, less so than he used to, so I guess it is a maturity issue. I think it's good, it shows great confidence

luciemule · 23/07/2007 21:45

Does your DS' twin seem the opposite as I had twin friends and one of them was a bit like your son, always doing the talking and the other twin couldn't get a word in edgeways?

DoubleBluff · 23/07/2007 21:46

My Ds's are the same. Esp DS2 who is currently telling anyoone with ears' We have a new Hamster, his name is Shrek'.
I reckon it is because me and Dh pay a lot of attention to waht they say, that they expect other adults to be equally intersted in them ( unfortunately most aren't!).
So really it is a sign of fantastically good parenting!!!

Speccy · 23/07/2007 21:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

adelicatequestion · 23/07/2007 22:28

Thanks Doublebluff. I accept the compliment lol.

My DH says that he doesn;t understand social boundaries. I think he's just exhuberant and sociable.

I think it will be good for him in the future if he can learn when to curb it - sometimes he can;t recognise when its not appropriate -but then he's only 6.

OP posts:

PeachesMcLean · 23/07/2007 22:32

He sounds a good character tbh. Especially "can I ask you a question?" in the check out queue.
I'd be instant smiles for him.

Ladymuck · 23/07/2007 22:39

DS1 (also 6) is the same.

I am trying to teach him that he shouldn't strike up conversations with adults especially if I'm already talking to them. But it is a hard area to give him the social cues that he needs - especially as much of his time with adults are with those who do have an interest and even a responsibilty towards him (teachers or group leaders of some sort). It almost boils down to the rule of "speak when you are spoken to". But I think a lot of it is just down to maturity, which will come in time.

kidsrus · 23/07/2007 22:49

My ds(6) is just as social telling everyone our buisness and so are his friends.
One of his friends recently said to my mil hello my name is whats your name?
I was flabergasted!!!!!!!!!
Even i don't do that know i should though as im crap at introducing myself.
Oh yeah by the way im kidsrus nice to meet you.

imaginaryfriend · 23/07/2007 22:52

My dd is very shy but she does this when she's got something pressing to say. She just got moved up a class in swimming and said to everyone that day, even the bus driver, 'i'm in level 2'. Nobody had a clue what she was on about.

PrettyCandles · 23/07/2007 22:54

My 6yo is also like this. I think he just hasn't yet fully learned to internalise his thoughts.

I'm sure he'll grow out of it.

but there are two aspects that concern me and that I try to do something about. One is about talking to strangers - he needs to understand that you can't just get into a conversation with complete strangers, especially adults, and tell them all about yourself. The other is that, as I don't know what or who will grab his attention, I'd better not share what I want to keep private!

Aefondkiss · 24/07/2007 21:37

speccy, I like what you said about it being nice when children talk to you... I agree with it being a confidence thing

at kidsrus, was your mil taken aback?

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