Very active toddler boy - what is normal and what isn’t?

[Cla7]

My son is 2 years and 1 month. He’s my first so I have no comparison, but it seems he’s more active than other children his age. I struggle to take him to any toddler classes. I’ve already given up on rhyme time etc because he’d just run up and down the venue, no chance getting him to sit in a circle. Now I try to do sporty classes with him, such as toddler football, but that doesn’t work either. He usually doesn’t do what the coach shows (I think he’d be able to, there were occasions where he successfully joined, with or without my help), but 90% of the time he just does his own thing, which is mostly running around and kicking balls. He’s not interested in trying to understand the games the coach explains. It is age appropriate, children in this class are 18 months - 2.5 years so he’s right in the middle. He is happy while he does his running around and laughs a lot.

Is this something to be concerned about? Should I continue taking him to classes and hope he’ll eventually get the idea of doing games together rather than doing his own thing, or stop them for now and just go to the park instead where he can run all he likes?

We’re out a lot when he’s with me (it’s very hard to keep him entertained at home) so I don’t think that he doesn’t get enough physical exercise. I tried to go and let him run and kick balls for half an hour before football class to release the energy, but that didn’t make a difference either.

I think he is speech delayed (he has about 10 mono-syllable words currently, something I will flag at his 2-year-review next week and seek support) but physically seems to be more capable than others his age (faster running, very confident climbing at playgrounds and ball kicking etc). His nursery didn’t say they are concerned, just that he’s very active.

He's 2.
Listening to instructions when there is something more exciting to do isn't a strong point for many!

He sounds just like my oldest - down to less than 10 words at the 2 year check. We got kicked out of a Mums and Babies class at 4 months, because he spent his time rolling around the mat rather than lying still.

He's currently applying to University. He's smart, polite, and generally a very good kid. Just not one that sits around.

Buy you both some decent winter coats, and get out to the park. Include the woods and beach if accessible and he will stop if you tell him to. Those are the spaces you will find kids like yours - their parents just figured out a bit earlier that structured classes dont work for all personalities! I lived by the motto to treat toddlers like dogs - feed well and excerise twice a day!

I could say this about our boys and a couple of the girls but they grew out of it a couple of years on

That is totally normal re the football class.

I would abandon paid classes and do active things with less structure. Do you have a trampoline park near you? Absolute godsend with mine at that age. He still has membership now, three years on! We do a lot of outdoor stuff too.

I always imagined him as a spaniel. Needed a good run at least once a day.

Sounds exactly like my little boy. I gave up taking him to any classes and only now at 3.5 does he sit and join in, although he still doesn’t like it and would rather be active doing his own thing. He also was delayed with talking, still only saying about ten words at 2.5, but now is advanced in his speech and talks like a mini adult. I think it’s really normal and nothing to worry about, although easy to say with hindsight as I was very worried about him at the time!

I’m glad that others had the same experience and that everything turned out fine. I feel like the odd one out at toddler classes at the moment, I’m always the only one that chases after their child all the time. Last week, another mum even said to me that it must be so hard to parent such an energetic child, this did make me worry a bit.

I’d suggest abandoning the paid classes and get out and about doing your own thing. My DS was a bit like this with the football class for 18 month to 2.5 year olds - he’d dip on and out of the ‘lesson’ but really just wanted to do his own thing. I persevered for 6 months and then gave up. It was the same with Tumble Tots at that age. DS is now 11 and has a ‘normal’ level of energy - he just didn’t like the restriction of classes at such a young age.

Get him a balance bike, football, etc and take
him to a park where he can run free. Try going swimming together (not lessons), perhaps forest school (the one near us does one-off sessions too), walks in parks/woods, seek out playgrounds that are a bit more adventurous etc. Some children do need more exercise and freedom than others and that doesn’t mean it’s anything to worry about.

Sounds completely normal, and that's not a boy thing it's a personality thing. I'd stop classes and just find active things to do - trampolining, swimming, would he start to use a balance bike? Find a secure field or woods he can run around as he likes.

mah that brings it back. People with non super active children can never understand what it is like to have one. Honestly my eldest would not sit still. She was constantly on the move from the moment she woke up to the money she went to sleep. It was exhausting honestly. On the plus side she is now super sporty so has something to channel all that energy. Like others have said sounds completely normal for a toddler. Obviously as they get older and don’t settle down into following instruction then have another look but for now let them enjoy the freedom to run about and explore

My ds isn't quite 2 yet, but absolutely just a ball of energy. I'm also quite sporty and love being outdoors so we always have something to do. I stopped doing paid classes and instead we do things like:
Farm to feed the sheep/goats/chickens which he loves, he can run around, pet the animals etc.
Go for a bike ride (he has a seat that goes behind the handlebars) I think he likes the adrenaline of going fast.
To the park, in the rain, in the cold etc
Anything outdoors - collecting leaves, chasing him, feeding the ducks, doing obstacle courses, he even likes walking to the shop, going in the trolley and coming home.

I also found a great forest play club, it's pretty much let the children collect sticks, leaves rocks and run around, make mud potions etc.

Indoors, I get the cushions of the sofa and let him jump around, roll off the sofa. We also have a tunnel and a tent he can play in.