Showing off??

[taboo]

My son is 3.5 and I have noticed in the last few months that he gets very silly when other children are around - it's usually when people come to our house or if we're out in a social situation. A friend of mine called in last night with her two daughters (aged 12 and 7), and ds proceeded to 'put on an act' for them, pretending to fall on the floor and jumping up and down in front of them, etc etc. He also doesn't listen to anything I say when he gets excited like this. I saw the girls rolling their eyes at him a few times, as though he was being totally irritating (which he probably was!)

Is this 'showing off' behaviour quite typical for kids his age, or is it major attention seeking? I can't say that I've noticed a lot of other children doing it, but that's probably because they're not my children so I don't tend to take much notice. Thanks..

Ah, he's only a baby! Three is very young IMO and it's natural to be 'silly'. He's only happy and excited and trying to be an impressive big boy to these very impressive big girls. Wanting attention is perfectly normal and OK. We all hate being ignored. Personally I think it's naughtier to roll your eyes at other people, but that's also natural for little girls pretending to be sophisticated. I really wouldn't worry if your son is irritating children in his own home.

I agree with aloha. it is part of human nature to want others to think well of us and showing off/entertaining potential friends is just part of this. As for other children doing it - maybe you have been tied up watching your own child not notice but IMO all children do this. Sometimes it is just a stage they go through and others do it all the time - depends on their personality. Some really shy children go all coy and act cute to get attention in a low key "safe " way and often more confident children will just play to the crowd - shame one lot can be seen as cute and given reassurance and attention while the other lot get told to be quiet... As for those two girls - typical "young ladies" - again agree with aloha on this one. They should have realised he was a lot younger than them and allowed him to act his age without that silly act of their own - very unkind in my opinion.
If he does get OTT then try to calm him down a bit but don?t be embarrassed for stepping into the limelight - personally I think showing confidence and a desire to be centre stage is not that bad really.

Thanks Aloha & Stripymouse. I know a lot of it is probably to do with his age, but sometimes he just gets so overexcited/boisterous in these situations that I find it hard to get him to calm down.

You're right Stripymouse, he has always been a more 'out there' personality and definitely works the crowd (when there is one), which I suppose is a bit of a shock to dh and I, as we were both shy & reserved as children. So I don't quite know where he sprang from!