Wiggling/”swimming”

[CK]

I wanted to ask advice on my 3 ½ yr old girl. When she is sitting down on a hard chair or bench and concentrating on a task, she often starts wiggling her bum on the seat. It is accompanied by her holding her breath for a couple of seconds at a time and breathing deeply. In extreme cases, she goes rigid and can?t continue with her colouring, drawing or whatever she was doing. The nursery says that she is ?swimming?; a behaviour that can we found in girls and is a behaviour that gives comfort. However they have recommended that I talk to my health visitor about it. In all other ways, she is a bright, confident, chatty, happy child. Has anyone else come across this ?

I once babysat a little girl who was 2-3 yrs who also did this type of thing. I didnt pay much attention at first but then I noticed after some time that it was a habit regulary she had. I used to babysit everyday in the afternoon. It seemed to me that she discovered it was a way to make her feel good (if you know what I mean) not that she knew what it meant. I never thought to say anything to her parents but I wished I did so they would of known. As much as she did this (mainly when watching tv) they must of already known.

I agree with threeangels, my dd discovered something similar at that age - she called (calls) it her "exercises". Didn't want to come over all heavy and give her a complex, so we have a rule that it's something you only do in private. V embarrassing when she did it in front of the grandparents!

Thanks for the feedback. I've got the health visitor coming round today (well, actually she's 20mins late so I hope she's coming). The nursery says she's been better this week but she's worse at home. Threeangels - I don't suppose you know of the girl grew out of it ? My daughter has been doing it for about 18 months and it doesn't seem to be getting better. I just don't want it to continue when she starts school next year.

They grow out of it - but have a good time for a while! We just siad it was something you do in private.

The health visitor agreed that I shouldn't make a big deal of it. If she is doing it whilst drawing etc, just ask her if she wants to do another activity that doesn't involve sitting down at a chair. She thought that it was either that she wanted to go to the toilet (I don't think it's that), she's anxious about doing the drawing etc right or the best (that could be true as she is very competitive), or just a habit (could be). So it's a case of just breaking the habit of it. Let's just see what happens. It's a good idea to say it's a thing she can just do in private.

Sorry CK, I dont know if she outgrew this or not. I'm sure this is a habit that will diminish in time. When your dd starts school her mind will be so occupied on school stuff that she will probally forget about it.