I know I saw a thread last month about kids who narrate their every action, but I don't remember the name of it.

But can or should anything be done about it? I have a four year old dcg who does this, but its to the point where she won't go through with the action if I don't validate each announcement.

I'm going to read a book. (Okay, good idea)
I'm going to read xx book. (Okay)
Im going to sit here (Silence)
I'm going to sit here, I'm going to sit here, imgoingtosithere x infinity til I respond

Or

Am I calendar helper (yes that's your job this week)
Are we gonna do calendar? (Yes at circle time)
And I'm the calendar helper? (Yep)
When we do calendar, I'm gonna be the calendar helper (silence)
Right Ms ---? Right? I'm the calendar helper right??

Its a little more annoying than I'm comfortable with, and I'd like to curb it. I know she likes to know what's going on, and I can say I'm good about explaining things to kids beforehand, but*that doesn't make a whole lot of difference with this DCG. Any ideas on how I can modify this behavior? Thanks.

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I have one like this too. "I need to wash my hands , I am washing my hands , I am done washing my hands , I need to dry my hands , I am drying my hands " etc ...

I let her know that she does not need to tell me everything , just the big things . But she still narrates everything . Sometimes it makes for a very long day , especially when a younger dck starts to mimic and you then have 2 doing it .

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My 5 year old daughter does this and she talks with her hands . So everything she says, she ends it with "right" and if I ignore her she said it again then says "right mommy, right daddy" or whoever else she's talking to. I tell her all the time she doesn't have to say right behind everything. AND gosh.... if she's telling a story, her hands are moving all over the place and then she ends it with "RIGHT"

It drives me crazy.....

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i think kids today are like this because everything is a big thing and they get praised for everything....parents are like helicopters over their kids creating self-centered monsters....

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I have a few in my class now that I've almost stopped from doing this. My response is "Why are you telling me" and I walk away or continue whatever I'm doing. As for the questions, I usually say "I'm not answering that" especially when I just said it five seconds ago. I just keep repeating my phrases and they get the hint. Not trying to hijack but does anyone know the reason they do this? Is it an attention seeking behavior?

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I feel it is because they are the center of attention ALWAYS! Think about it, around here you can't even go to a baby shower without somebody's kids hijacking the show and "MOM" sits back and acts like it is so cute!!!!

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Oh my gosh, I was at a baby shower this weekend, and a five year old girl there did exactly that!

During the gift opening, she kept pulling presents from the pile and tearing through them as the pregnant mom was trying to open them. Pregnant Mama kept telling her to be patient. She was trying so hard to keep all of the gifts organized so she knew who gave her what. This girl just kept at it. And the girl's mom just sat there and said nothing.

The girl was the daughter of the pregnant mom's friend--so she wasn't even a niece or a cousin, not that it would be acceptable then, but sometimes we tolerate more from family

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The one child I had who did this was an only child who came here on a very PT schedule and was cared for by a parent the rest of the time. She had a ton of one-on-one attention at home. She also had zero social skills in terms of playing with other children. She showed some real signs of social anxiety around her peers.

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EXACTLY! and this happens way too often and society has enabled it!

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My 12 yo dd does this and she's diagnosed with OCD and generalized anxiety disorder. So the constant reinforcement she needs is a security thing mixed in with compulsions to always know what's going on. It's maddening sometimes, but I understand why she does it.

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This explains my worst offender to a tee.

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Even my nephew that is special needs has boundaries......so I think all kids should have boundaries...it is not productive for positive growth when children are allowed to overtake a situation just because they can...Where is the respect for others well-being? Just my opinions, but can you imagine this generation when they reach, what the world considers, adult-age...How will they function when everyone feels they are entitled to special treatment?

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I call this, "asking questions you already know the answers to." My oldest son has a lot of anxiety and used to do things similar to this. When he was younger I took him to counseling because I had no idea why he was so anxious and always asking questions. The counselor told me, if he asks you something you know he knows the answer to, respond with a question back to him, such as, "you tell me, does it say you are the calendar helper?" Or "what do you think?" (Of course in your sweet provider voice.)And if they say, yes, respond with "ok, great!" and end the conversation. If they keep asking I would maybe say, "we already talked about this." And end it.

I think children do this for reassurance and attention. I do think parents play somewhat of a role in the behavior, but I also think some kids are just more anxious or attention seeking than others.

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I asked for advice for the very same issue here. The thing that worked for me was telling him he can keep some of those thoughts to himself. Repeatedly. It took a week or so, but it did work. I know the reason he was doing it was because his mom was narrating everything for him, hoping it would improve his literacy. Maybe it worked, he did seem advanced.
Pssssst...it works on adults too. "Hey! Lady on the Plane Who Hasn't Stopped Talking Since She Boarded! You know, you can keep some of those thoughts to yourself!"
Good luck. I know it can drive you batty.

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This sounds a lot like anxiety to me. Unless the behaviour is accompanied with a lot of - look at me, look at me!! (Then I would go towards thinking it is an indulgded child issue)

Does the child seem relaxed during the day?
Does she easily engage in play with her peers?
Does she require constant reassurance during crafts or activities?
Is the child overly concerned with the daily routine and what comes next?
Does the child have emotional outburts over seemingly simple tasks?

If you can answer yes to most of these questions, I would suggest that you notify her parents. If she is suffering from OCD, generalized anxiety or aspergers, early intervention can be extremely beneficial.

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Sorry just seeing this...but yes, actually. Yes to some of those. Today she went into complete soap opera crying because she didn't want the orange pillow at circle time.

She is defintely Pampered Pretty Princess at home though. And have a group of 7 boys and 2 girls...so even my other kids baby and overindulge her (Here! Here! You want the purple pillow? Green? Let me put it behind your head!)

It could be anxiety, but I think its anxiety because she's not the center of attention at school and can't handle it too well.

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