I read the earlier thread on another five-year old boy who paces back and forth several times a day. Our son, who just started kindergarten, also exhibits this behavior and has since he was a toddler.

He appears to pace when he he is overstimulated, processing, daydreaming or has a full bladder. He has seen an OT off/on for a couple years to learn ways to cope with what he's feeling, but it hasn't curbed his behavior. It's not constant, but happens a few times/day at home and school.

He attends a Montessori school, which allows him to go in the hall or cloak room to pace, but I don't want this to follow him through his primary years. He is bright, reading chapter books and loves math, but he's never been tested for 'gifted.'

He's a pretty normal boy otherwise...funny, witty, smart, tempermental, etc. Any suggestions as to where to go from here?

my son also paces back and forth several times a day. He is almost six and has done this since he was two. He doesn't pace at school, but at home and when his friends are around. He has never shown an interest in toys and wonder if thats the case with your boys too. He is also very intelligent. I have taken him to a couple specialists who also cannot explain this behavior. They concluded that he has anxiety. I would love to talk to you more about this behavior.

Hello there. I'm a twenty-five-year old man that has had the same problems that has been described in this very thread. When I was younger I used to hum and pace a lot. The humming and pacing is like a trance when I'm in a deep imaginative state. It's like daydreaming only more extreme. When immersed in the fantasy I'm creating in my head, I would get lost inside it and start to hum and pace. As I got older I've learned to control it, but the compulsion to do it has never stopped. I believe I was misdiagnosed with ADHD and Asperger in the past, and none of those medications ever did anything to stop the humming and pacing. The medication just creates new problems because of the side-effects.

Children may have internal stress that create the need for more stress relief. Many children do not have the cognitive resources to understand many things in their lives. They will exert more activity in an attempt to relieve that stress.

Boys are more active due to differential treatment from a young age.

The idea Males should be strong that allows more aggression toward them as early as 6 months; less kind, stable, mental, emotional, social/verbal interaction for fear of coddling; and giving love, honor respect only on condition of sufficient strength or achievement all plays a part in raising average stress and so more activity.

Since girls are not supposed to be strong, this then allows for more positive care, less aggression; positive mental/emotional/social,verbal support, attention; and respect simply for being girls. This is creating differences in maturity, handwriting, activity, and yes, academics

My son who is almost 6 also paces... he is bright and is very socialable and makes friends easily. He comes across as a typical 6 year-old. We find that the teachers can't get past this odd habit and we've taken him to specialist who say there isn't anything wrong wtih him. I would love to talk to others who are experiencing the same thing... it is quite stressful at times.

Julie

Hi There,

My son is turning 6 and he paces whenever he is imagining something, bored, tired or thinking. He can stop anytime and is aware that he's doing it. He is otherwise like any other 6 year-old boy... he is extremely social, likes to have fun all the time, very talkative and in general a happy boy who can make friends anywhere.

He is in grade one and I think his behavior is an issue for his teachers. He has a short attention span when it comes to things he doesn't want to do but can concentrate on something for hours when it's something that he wants to do.

I would love to communicate with you more to share experiences... I don't want him diagnosed with something in error and would enjoy the support.

J

My son who is now 7 1/2 has been pacing back and forth whenever he is bored, tired or thinking as well. He also does the humming and daydreaming. He has been doing this for more than 2 years. He is definitely a social kid. He also has issues paying attention and statyng focused (including with respect to school work). His school just don't know what to make of the day dreaming and humming - I was told he gets overwhelmed when sitting still to do school work. We have seen a specialist who pretty much concluded ADHD (presumably that is the closest diagnosis). I am staying away from prescriptions for now. I am trying the different focus exercises and vitamins (including fish oil). Otherwise, not sure what to do and it is stressful at time. He does not do the pacing when busy playing or doing something he likes.

I would love to hear what others think has helped or if anyone knows of kids who used to be like this but got better as they get older.

My son is 5 1/2 and also paces back and forth while imagining different play scenarios. He is very bright, social, well behaved, and has no behavioral or social issues. He has a 'focus object' that he holds in his hands~im not sure what the significance of the object is, but it must always be there in order for him to play this way. He does not do this outside of our home and he plays with toys and other children just fine. Usually he will watch/play something (video game/movie) then stop it midway to 'play with his bullet' (the focus object is a foam bullet). He will tell us what he intends to play, "I am going to play Ben 10 and Spiderman with my bullet." Then he makes the sound effects and talks as one would do when playing with toys. He has been recommended for gifted school by his teacher and I truly believe he has above-average intelligence. I just wonder, since his behavior is limited to home and he can control it, should I even be concerned? What could be causing this?

When he was a baby he did the 'flapping' and moved his feel & hands while in his highchair or whatever (before he could talk). The doctor said most likely he is very smart and that was his way of dealing with his advanced thoughts because he could not (at that time) express them any other way. My question is, do gifted children do things like this (because all too often these behaviors scream 'autism')?
Should I be seeking the advice of a medical professional when he seems totally healthy, well adjusted, happy, etc? He knows what he is doing and is aware that others may look at him strangely because he does not do it at others' homes.

He has, however 'flapped' on occasion at the home of a friend with which he is comfortable (this happens only when he is very excited). My brother was extremely intelligent and growing up he used to make fists and rub them onto his top lip much like my son does this pacing. I firmly believe it is because they are very smart and this is how they deal with all of the thoughts; however I wonder if I should be looking into it more? Thanks so much in advance! Take Care!