I have a 2 1/2 year old that has some behavioral issues.?

Question

I am wondering how much of it is being 2 and if any of it I need to have some real concerns about. I need to start off w/ the fact that he is a very happy boy, loves to play, snuggle, laugh, etc., but at times he is very sensitive to loud noises, he also gets very angry. If he doesn't like something thats going on, he will slap or bite people(only those he is very close to, i.e. mom, dad, grandma). He gets very scared alot. He can be playing and will run to me as fast as he can go, as if he just saw a ghost. He bites his nails all of the time. He, especially at nap time, will wake up scared talking about the man in his room, like he had a bad dream. He also doesn't like it if there is alot of laughter, he will yell out "it is not funny" repeatedly. Please help.

Answer 1

I think is totally normal my 5 year old still has an imaginary friend who kicks out monsters out of his room. I just make sure that he keeps a night light on. The "wonderful twos" is a stage that I don't miss but it is unforgettable. It is just that a stage that will pass but just make sure that he is supervised at all times.

Answer 2

I assure you I am a totally noraml person, although, I'm going to answer this from a spiritual side. Children are innocent, they have not been taught what is accepted and what is learned. They can see things we can't. As adults we are sceptic and children don't have that ability yet so he can't block it out. I actually saw a show with this exact behavior, well it started out this way and just got worse and worse, but the house they moved in to was haunted and the kid on the show had outbursts and claimed there was a man and he was very afraid. Spirits can show themselves to children easier because of their innocense. His fear and what he sees is very real to him. His nail biting can be caused because he feels Mom and Dad don't believe him. There was a study about nail biting and it can be caused by parental resentment. The two people that should trust him and be trusted may be shrugging off or brushing off his fears and that frustrates him causing outbursts and massive frustration. I would ask more questions about the things he is afraid of, maybe do some research about your house, or maybe a grandparent is constantly watching over him. Maybe if your parents have passed, you could show your son pictures and tell him who it is and just gauge his reaction. Don't ask him if that is who he sees, kids are very easily persuaded. Good luck!

Answer 3

I would say for the most part it is 2 year old stuff. I have a 3 and1/2 and a 7and 1/2 yr. old As far as being scared when this happens just ask him what he is scared of some children are more scared then others my daughter was like that and after awhile of just speaking wiht her. For her it was scared of hte unknown so if she came running and pointing and I fouind the source of the noise and showed it to her ie a clock then after awhile she became less and less scared. But I also believe that becuase children are not close minded they can see things we cant. Maybe he is having bad dreams. When my daughter was very young I not knowing anybetter would have her in her bassinet in the room next to mine but the tv was a little loud and even though she was sleeping she could still hear everything so I use to watch scarry movies and she could hear them it took her doctor and I awhile to realize it was something so simple as to just lowering the tv or not watching them. After about a month and a half her night mares went away. Is your son in any kind of day care? with the way he screams its not funny its almost like he feels like everyones laughing at him. I would just run it by your pediatrician or someone that spealizes in mental health of children. I dont think it is anything too serious or it could be nothing at all but they will be able to tell you ways too calm him and help him learn to control his anger and fear etc. Not so much control it as release in a more positive way. I dont think kids should be told they cant be upset because it is unrealistic. One thing you could try before contacting a doctor a friend of mine did this when he is scared and angry ask him to draw what makes him feel that way. Kids can draw what they see easier then explainging it. I hope this helps.

Answer 4

These sound like fairly normal toddler behaviors to me and many I see in my own 2.5 year old son.

A lot of toddlers are starting to transition into being children and developing imaginations and fears. Loud noises can suddenly become scary, especially if they can't see where the noise is coming from.

They're still testing their boundaries with negative actions, such as selective listening, hitting, slapping, biting, yelling and throwing things. Consistent discipline is important in starting to phase those out, but remember that it's a phase and process and it will take time. It might be another year before they all disappear for the most part.

If he bites his nails, clip them and keep them short but that's probably just an off-shoot of thumb-sucking.

Here's a couple articles about toddler fears you might want to check out
http://www.todaysparent.com/toddler/behaviordevelopment/article.jsp?content=6519&page=1
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/toddler/toddlerbehavior/11551.html

Answer 5

The coincidences in your question and what I went through with my first son at 4 years old (now 21) are scary! I can relate to everything you stated except the laughing part. I talked to him about the person in his room and why he seemed scared and irritated at some times, but not at others. Like you probably have, I told him that it was just a dream or that it was ok, I was here, I wouldn't let anyone hurt him. None of this worked.

I saw a plaque in Walmart one day while this was going on and it said, "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but that of a sound mind and peace." It's paraphrased and I don't know the reference, but regardless, it gave me the idea of praying with him before he went to bed and also for him, everyday.
We prayed together that God would make the fear go away (Being afraid is what we said, on his level) and that peace and good things would replace it. I prayed this also when I prayed for him.

Now, you can call me hokey or whatever, but I'll tell you what, IT WORKED! Also with my third son, who seemed to go through it between 3 and 4.

Good luck and may peace follow!

Answer 6

I have a 3 year old whom was just diagnosed with ADHD/ ODD AND a bit of OCC. He has behavioral issues as well and for over a year now. Hitting, scratching people for NO reason at all, now into saying bad words and telling me NO all the time and just completely ignores me.

I thought perhaps he was a bit autistic, but so far with what he comes up with word wise and comprehension, he isnt, he just has the ODD really bad. He will bite me, scream yell, pinch and because of his age doctors will not put him on medicine.

I have tried the time outs, and oh he promises to behave soon as he is out of time out and he does the same thing. He likes to shred paper like he is some gerbil! LOL He pours out bath gel, squeezes out the toothpaste so we have to keep that out of his reach, and he tries to destroy all he has. He rips books apart so he has no books now. If I am holding the book, he will find a way to rip a page, so the books he does have left are put up.

I would see about taking him to a child psychiatrist first... they may suggest child guidance to you as well, where my son has his first visit soon....not soon enough if you ask me!

I dont want him doped up on medication, but I swear my son is NON STOP! ALL day you have to watch him or he is into something. I want him to SLOW down!

I wished I could be of more help.......but I would suggest child guidance, as they usually have a trained psychiatrist/ologist on hand to help.

Good luck to you!!

Answer 7

My girlfriends child has some of these same issues, and after exhaustive appointments and research, he was diagnosed with auditory processing disorder. He pinches and hits his mom and dad very hard. If you tell him something that he doen't want to hear, he will scream and tell you to "quiet or stop" In his own home, he feels like everything needs to go his way. He cannot share and you have to ask about everything pertaining to him. "Can I sit in this chair?" Tonight it may be his, but yesterday it was a different chair that he sat in. At school, it is a different story. He functions well without many issues. Good luck with this. You have a long road ahead.

Answer 8

Have you had he's hearing tested?
He may be expierencing problems, maybe even with one side. It could also be a distortion he is hearing. This would be scary and my affect the volume when people/kids get loud.
it might explain his sleeping, too. If its only one side and he islying on the good side and then rolls over it would go from silent to loud. And voices suddenly would be starteling. Thats all i can think of. Talk to your pediatrician.

Answer 9

Some of this sounds like a two year old to me .
He hasn't discovered ways to properly express himself yet . try to help him put his feelings into words -you may have to 'give' him the words he needs to explain how he feels.
He may be having 'night terrors'
I think a talk with your pediatrician could be in order - It will make you feel better to know that you have all the bases covered.
I like Rhannons answer !