Talkative Preschoolers??? About This Page:

[Chrissi]

We're having some trouble with DS. Both my mom and DMIL assure me it's just his age, but he's driving me out of my tree. He talks constantly. I mean - NEVER shuts up. His mouth is running from sun up until bedtime. Whether it's actually talking or just making these annoying shrieking noises, there is a constant stream of noise coming out of his mouth.

I tried giving him a pair of headphones and some music to listen to to encourage some quiet time. We also have headphones hooked up to all his noisier educational toys to help encourage him to keep some of his noise to himself. All to no avail.

He even talks in his sleep. And not quietly either. I don't understand. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] I'm praying it's just a phase that he'll grow out of. A friend suggested trying to teach him to meditate, but he just talks the whole time anyway. He even talks over us trying to explain what quiet time means until one of us gets fed up with the constant chatter and tells him to shut up for five minutes. That quiets him down for about 30 seconds or so.

I've tried distracting him with stories and board games - you name it. I don't think this is about getting attention. He homepreschools so he does lessons with me every morning and afternoon. We read 3 or 4 books daily and he talks through the stories, too. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] He helps me make meals. We try to include him in everything we do, but it's hard just to give him directions when he's always talking or making noise. It's the shrieking that's really getting on my nerves. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img] And he has this loud, forced laugh and he bellows at everything. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

I wish I had a video camera so you guys could get a taste of what it's like here all day long. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] I'm ready to sedate him if this goes on for much longer. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img] Does anyone else have a 4 year old who talks constantly? Please tell me he will grow out of this. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

[Caldercup]

My husband was like this - constantly making noise. His four sisters found it so annoying that they (gathered around their cauldron [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] and) cursed him with a noisy child.

Well, guess who deals with the result of the curse? ME! I have Calder, who is now 10 and constantly makes noise. If he's not humming, he's whistling. He talks to the TV and tries to talk in movie theatres (but DH and I shush him.) He taps, he clicks, he scritches.

So, yes... it could just be a phase. It could also be something that comes naturally to him.

With Calder, I just have to let him know that he needs to (as Jill says) take some "shutty pills."

Oh, and he's an only child. I've always wondered if that had any affect on him. Like he's trying to fill up his world with noise that siblings might have made...

[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/luck.gif[/img]
Eileen

[graygables]

[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/sorry.gif[/img] you are going through this. My now 18yo was a talker and I finally had to start disciplining her with it. She had to learn that there were appropriate and inappropriate times to talk and just letting her go on and on was not working. After explaining the concept, I would put my finger to her lips when she was talking out of turn and if she kept talking, it was time-out, leave the area, or whatever the appropriate discipline happened to be for where we were. Screaming was never allowed unless on a playground and annoying noises were quickly shut down. I spent a lot of time on my knees (in prayer, but mostly to be eye to eye! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img]) making lots of eye contact and my forefinger on her lips. We did progress to a point where I would give her the "shush" sign and that was her signal to put her finger on her lips. She just needed a bit of reprogramming to interrupt the circuit in her brain that was making her go on and on. It worked for awhile, but when she hit puberty, it all came back again. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

She was dxed AD*H*D at about 12 and the DX was changed to bipolar at about 14. The psychiatrist told me that excessive, inappropriate, or rapid talking/noise making was often a symptom of bipolar, that they have to create their own aural chaos if they aren't already surrounded by it. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] I'm absolutely not saying that he has any issues like that at all, but it is something to watch for, especially if the "circuit interruption training" doesn't work.

[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grouphug.gif[/img] and [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] on the way...it can be emotionally (and physically) exhausting trying to keep up with all that all day long.

[Belle*]

Ummm - I have a 2 year old who talks constantly, is that the same thing? Ryan narrates his entire life! Here is a sample from today:"Momma, we driving? We driving, driving, driving, Momma - stop light!! Stop light! Momma, you stop at the stop light? Wait for it to turn green. Wait Momma, Light turn green, go Momma go! Momma are we going to the store and then to school. (muttering to himself) We going to school, going to school, go to store and then to school... (loudly) MOMMA! You turning left? You turning left Momma?? We turning left!!" That was about 45 seconds of conversation. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] So I feel your pain! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] Our pediatrician says Ryan is 2.5 going on 8.

I have no suggestions I'm afraid, just sympathy! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/flowerred.gif[/img] I'm also glad to hear it's not just mine. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/whistling2.gif[/img]

[Chrissi]

[ QUOTE ]
they have to create their own aural chaos if they aren't already surrounded by it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think this is probably brought on by the only-child syndrome that DS seems to have that Eileen mentioned. When he's with other kids, he can spend hours quietly observing and interacting with them. Unfortunately, we don't spend a lot of time with other kids that isn't structured (karate class, story time at the library, piano lessons and homeschool club with the piano instructor's kids). The few kids he does spend a lot of time with are my cousins (closer to him in age than I) and they seem to have the same diarrhea of the mouth. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img] Maybe it's genetic. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

I have to admit, the noise-making got worse when I cut back on daytime tv time. The tv is off more than it's on because I don't like a lot of background noise. I wonder if playing music in the family areas of the house during the day would help. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/questionicon.gif[/img]

Thanks guys! You've got me thinking! Time for a little noise experiment. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Sara - that is exactly what it's like to be with DJ - except it's all day long and there's a lot more non-sensical muttering thrown in. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

[RobinKay6573]

I don't have any kids but I have known a few preschoolers. They LOVE to talk...[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/ukid.gif[/img] have you met Ms. Emilie? Or Mary Davall? *LOL* Boy can those two talk up a storm. I can't imagine if we ever got those two girls together. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]

[Scribatha]

My youngest DD is 4. She'll be 5 next month and she talks alot too. I think it's just a phase as she is always talking aloud instead of "in her head". She is just talking to herself, as she very clearly states, "I'm not talking to you, I'm talking to me!" [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] Ok then! I just try to listen without her knowing. And I am very careful not to intererupt her as I'm trying to teach her it is not polite to interupt. I learn alot about her by listening to her talk to herself.

I think part of it too is they are expirementing with words and emotions, and their non-stop talking is their way of practicing.

I think it's a phase and your son will start to grow out of it soon. Pixies for your patience!!

[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img]

[Huntermom]

Can you get your son some more social time? Maybe join a playgroup or baby-sitting co-op? Even an unstructured nursery program at church? Kids really do learn a lot in free play situations and it also teaches them a lot about how to interact with others.

It sounds like your DS may be a little bit lonely and likes to have some "noise" to keep him company.

The good news is that if he's noisy, your know where he is and probably what he's doing. In our house, quiet was not necessarily a good sign.

Diane

[Tink and co.]

My son is 8 and still jabbers constantly. I believe he was born talking complete sentences [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] He drives us all nuts. Hallie said to him in the car just yesterday, "Please stop talking to me or I'm going to slap you." I was proud of her for using her words! And did he stop? No. He started narrating the story to me.[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] A good choice, as I don't slap!
My girls talked a lot as preschoolers too. Zoie constantly narrated everything we did (Sarah's post brought back some happy memories.), and our pediatrician said it was because she was so intelligent. BTW, I LOVE the woman[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] I really thought it was a "boy thing"(especially the noises) and like everything else, they'll outgrow it soon enough.
Now the girls just talk on the phone to their friends, constantly [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]
Maybe headphones for mom? I've been known to seclude myself in the restroom with an unknown ailment for a little peace and quiet. For what it's worth, I vividly remember my mom telling me to "Please be quiet, just for a few minutes." and it's recorded in my baby book about how much I talked. hmm...maybe it is hereditary [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

[ssnssmom]

Um, yeah! I have 2 like that. I thought that my oldest DD (10) talked alot, but my middle DD (3 1/2) takes the cake!!! She cried all of the time as a baby, and now if she isn't talking she is singing or making some sort of noise. My mom now says that she was not crying as a baby, she was singing! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]
Anyway, he may never outgrown wanting to talk, but the constant noisemaking will stop eventually. (Or so I have been told) Good luck to you. Maybe just invest in a good set of earplugs. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Caldercup]

...oh... and don't let them take up an instrument.

I'm sitting here typing with ear plugs in because Calder's messing around with his oboe.

I swear, if it wasn't such an awesome thing to add to a college application, I'd make him give up the oboe this very second!!

[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]
Eileen

[Happymommy]

Wow! He sounds like Aidan-- who is actually walking around the living room pretending he is a dinosaur having a conversation with another dinosaur. He's humming the music to Star Wars while saying both of the dinosaur's parts of the conversation. He never ever ever stops talking. If we're driving in the car-- he again pretends he's an animal or a transformer and has his own little conversations. Or he sings--Whatever cd is on-- he always knows all of the words. He usually asks for Van Morrison or Barenaked Ladies-- and he always sings along. He's a nut.

The only time he stops talking is when he plays VSmile. Forget about watching TV around him, because you're never going to here the television. This drives my youngest son crazy.

[LBAK]

Not that this will help but my 11 yo DD still hasn't shut up. She goes on and on from from 6:15 til bedtime! I learned how to tune her out but I never discouraged it. I did tell her that God gives you only so many words and when you use them up that's it. No more voice or words! That did work for a while until she caught on then back to square one. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]

[Chrissi]

Music does indeed soothe the savage beast. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] Thank goodness for TiVo's live radio music selections! (Love that Hawaiian radio!)

I'm updating this with a purpose. I put some music on this afternoon to see if it made any difference. DS played quietly with his trains for nearly an hour. He began chattering again as soon as he was out of earshot of the tv. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] He's on the potty singing Hawaiian love songs to himself right now. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img] We'll see how long this lasts.

I'm desperate for some quiet time. DH's weekend just ended. It's back to 12 hour shifts for the next three days so DS and I are on our own for pretty much the next 72 hours.

With 2 adults at home, one of us can take an hour and get away from the constant chatter by finding chores to do in other parts of the house. When it's just you - there's no getting away from it. DH is such a social person. He works in tech customer service, so he's used to a constant stream of noise or talking. I prefer peace and right now, I get none unless DH is home. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img] Thus begins my week. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[luv2sail]

My DD (4-1/2) is a talker but I know where she gets it from....her Dad. He doesn't stop talking, ever! She talks to Goofy and Mickey all the time. They are "her boys".

One time we had to drive from NJ to VA. We stopped in Baltimore and there was a kisok on the waterfront there that sold t-shirts. I found the perfect shirt for her, "Help, I've started talking and I can't shut up!". We made her wear it the whole next day!!

Good luck with your son. I completely understand how you feel!!