Actions of Child

My son is 3 and likes to act like a kitty cat. I was ignoring him when he did this at first (because I thought it was weird), but I think kids just do this for some extra attention. So, I decided to play along with it, and pat his head and say "good kitty" "come here kitty", then he usually just says a couple "meow"s" while laughing and jumps up. Then he's done.

She's just being silly. The more you tell her to stop and make a big deal of it, the longer she's going to act like that. I would just go along with her and laugh at her and be silly with her and she will stop sooner than if you're telling her to. Don't you remember how silly you were at 4 years old? Enjoy her silliness, she's going to grow up way too fast anyway.

As I write, my two daughters are pretending to be puppies. They want me to put a bowl down for them to drink from and everything. We don't have dogs. We never have had dogs just two cats and the girls definitely get more attention than the cats. :) I really think it is just fun for them to pretend. I also think the more you play into it with them. Let them pretend they are that animal for a whole day and all that comes with it- the faster they will quit.

My husband and I are raising our granddaughter, as well. In fact, we recently adopted her. She went through that stage, too. Her favorite was acting like a cat. When anyone would greet her or address her, she would meow and wave her "paw." Before she was 5 and in Kindergarten, she stopped doing this, except when friends were over and they were playing make-believe. Kudos to you and your husband for what you are doing. We're in your shoes and know what a great thing this is you are doing. God bless you both.

I applaud your granddaughter's imagination! It is a hallmark of an extremely bright child!

Please forget the counseling....allow her to blossom through love, understanding, & patience. Lots of patience!

My daughter just turned 5 and she is somewhat coming out of this stage. We've learned that if we just let her play it out a bit at a time, she gets over it a lot quicker. haha She also loves to act like a lil baby... we have a dog and 10 mo baby, so we're assuming that's where she gets the imitations. She is a very bright child and has no issues...just a very vivid imagination. :) Enjoy your lil grandchild while you can! They grow very quickly...as I'm sure you already know. :) Hope this helps and good luck!

This is completely normal and is just a stage. When my daughter was 4, she constantly acted like a pony. Even to the point of 'galloping' instead of walking and trying to eat without using her hands. This also happened at preschool. We would just remind her of all the things that little girls can do, but ponies can't. i.e. - ponies don't get to eat at the table, ponies can't go to school, ponies don't get to watch videos in the living room, etc. Her preschool teacher was also good about it and would gently remind her that ponies could be outside, but weren't allowed inside the building. This seemed to work since she learned that if she wanted to do certain things she enjoyed, she had to act like a little girl instead of a pony. She is 8 now and still loves to play make-believe, but has learned the appropriate time and place for it. Your granddaughter will grow out of it as well. Just remind her of all the great things little girls get to do that dogs, cats, and horses can't. She'll eventually learn when those behaviors are appropriate. Remember that a good imagination is important to creativity and problem solving. Teaching her to channel it rather than squashing it will help her greatly in the future. Good luck!

My kids (7,5,2)love to act like animals, especially dogs. They actually got the idea from a friend who was a dog and a horse. I think that if you don't make it a big deal, it will get better. My guess is that since you're not used to the silliness of having kids around, it gets on your nerves. It gets on my nerves, and I'm with my kids all the time!

my son did this all the time at that age - and even a little older. he is seven now and has moved on to other things - but still can be very active. i was only worried about it when he wouldn't talk to other children, and it scared them away. i explained to him that the other kids might be scared of him if he doesn't talk to them. i asked him to at least ask them if they want to play like animals with him. i dont think he really did this though. i don't think every kid does this, but i wouldn't be that concerned at this point. mine grew out of it eventually. i think it was a bit of shyness mixed with a love of animals and activity.

I have not read any other responses, however, I think it is perfectly normal. She has an imagination, let her use it. My son did the same thing at about that age. I thought it was cute, his dad thought there was something terribly wrong with him and made him stop. He would "turn into" the shaggy dog. He would go through all the motions of a transformation, then would act like a dog. The more they use their imagination the more creative and independent they are.

It's normal. Most all kids with really good imaginations do it. Just limit it with a very matter of fact attitude. When it is overboard or getting annoying, just say, OK, time to stop being a doggie now, let's do something else fun ..... then suggest something (preferably something you can join her in doing)
I like one mother's response about not allowing it at the table, at bedtime, etc. That's very good limit setting. It keeps the other family members from being overly annoyed, and teaches the child self discipline. That is the only time I would punish for the behavior, is if you have set certain times when it is a definite no-no, but she persists with it anyway. Even then, a little calm time out is all that is necessary.
It's actually a learning experience for her, just like playing house, or doctor, or teacher. Role playing is normal, even if the role is an animal. She'll outgrow it all too soon, and by then you may be wishing for the days when your biggest problem with her were only playing that she is a doggie ! LOL !

Good Morning Gr. Mama L.. Our 3 and a half yr old gr son pretends to be a dog, cat, rabbit, dinosaur. If he sees a grasshopper in the yard he jumps around like them. He will spread his arms and be a bird or airplane. We love playing pretend. He used to grab one of my hair clips ( I have very long hair) and put it in his hair, and say Look I am Nana you be Corbin.. Imagination in children is an awesome thing. We laid in the yd last summer cloud watching and he came up with some amazing things. We feel blessed that his little brain is so full of different and entertaining things. I laugh so much when he is with me daily.

Unfortunately Preschools frown on a lot of imagination playing. They have rules and they must be followed to the letter. If they aren't then some children are labeled a problem child. Hence Corbin is not in preschool anymore. Even though his teachers finally admitted he is much more advanced then the other children in their pre-school class.
He ADORED his teachers, and being in school. They just didn't know how to corral his energy level.
The last Nerve they stepped on was when he was accused of biting another child. He has Never bitten or even showed signs of wanting to bite. If he had he would of bitten his brother or cousin before now. They refused to let us see the child he was accused of biting even. Carlo's was Corbin's best friend he kept saying.
Our son decided he didn't want him labeled and removed him before Christmas. Corbin doesn't understand why he can't go to school anymore. So Nana is teaching him at home again.
Every Tuesday and Thursday he asks if he can go to school now?

I love imaginations, they help kids grow.

God Bless you Gr Mama L.
K. Nana of 5

My 4-yr-old does the same thing. He loves being different animals. (I like it when he's a kitty cat, cuz that means he wants to snuggle.) I don't make any big deal about it, just "Oh, hi, there, puppy" or whatever he is, and then I keep doing what I was doing. If he's barking, I tell him that I don't speak puppy, so if he wants something, then he needs to use his words. He'll outgrow it, and so will your granddaughter. Good luck with the challenge you've taken on, what a great grandma you are! :)

I would need a little more information before I could really have any sort of opinion on this. What percentage of the day does your grand daughter do this?? If it is just occasionally I wouldnt worry about it...all children "pretend" but if this is the way she is trying to communicate on a regular basis...then I would be concerned. Since her Mother and Father dont seem to be involved in her life right now...there must have been some stressful situation in her past that she may be trying to deal with.
I dont think we can give you really solid advice without know how prevalent these actions are for her.
I applaud you for being willing to step in and provide a stable and loving home for your grand daughter...it will be a lot of work...but you should be proud of yourself for doing it.
God bless you all

Does she ALWAYS act like this? Like shes always an animal or is she just pretending? And Im sorry to be this nosey but where are her Mom & Dad? You say shes been acting like this from the start. Well when was that? If she has recently been separated from her parents she could be going through a lot of things. Maybe take her to a counselor? I know when kids get nervous they can act kind of weird or just dont know how to act. I mean if shes just playing around like most kids it doesnt seem like a big deal, but if she actually thinks shes an animal there might be something else going on.

I would not be concerned. It sounds like she really likes animals. Do you think it would help to take her to a country vet or farm? Maybe she is fascinated with animals and would rerspond to well with them. If that works it will give you a bargaining chip on behavior maintenance. Also you can buy toy Vet kits with little stuffed animals for her to "treat". Good Luck

Of course this is NOT normal! If this is even a serious question......

Sounds like you need to join a PAT program in your area. PAT - 'Parents As Teachers' program with the public schools. They even have "Child Educators" come to your house a couple times throughout the school year and check the developement of your Granddaughter and give you literature on what to expect in the upcoming months etc. It is a wealth of information. Just contact the public Elementary school near you. Good Luck!

I have several grandchildren and one granddaughter was always crawling on all fours and being a lion or cheeta and a fast one at that. I was also concered as she watched lion king a lot. Even quit letting her watch lion king for a time. A good friend of mine told me it was normal and the child was in control when she was doing this. It sounded good and she is older and no longer has need to be a lion or a cheeta. Hope this helps.
Bareftd

If it's an occasional acitivity, it's probably not a problem. If she is always doing it, then I would be a bit concerned. If you live in Missouri, you should check into Parents as Teachers. Every school district offers it. They send parent educators to your house and talk to you about child development, do assessments and answer parenting questions. They do visits for children birth-5 years old. Just call your district's early childhood center.

Watch the movie Hope Floats. Good movie and it will give you some tips as to how to handle this kind of behavior. The grandma in this film is a saint!

All kids like to play this game by acting like animals. Try to give her ground rules for this action. Such as during meals she MUST be herself as a girl not anything else-eating with the right manners and using the right words not sounds. Also at bedtime she must be a brave girl again if she needs her stuffed animals to keep her company that is fine but she must remember to be the girl for them too. Watch her when she plays-is this to get attention or to avoid something that is really bothering her?
Talk to her teachers also they may give you some insight to this constant that you have not noticed. Don't forget just because they are little they to are often bothered by things around them that we may not realise-pay attention to what you are doing or if there is stress in your life. We all want times to escape. If it becomes obsessive you need to research what is going on-talk to her too. Help her grow through this-there will be other thigs later and you both will be better prepared after you work on this "project". If you close to a college/university with a couseling group they can work with you and her to teach you how to help and also help you to find out if there is something bothering her. Does she play well with others or avoid them? Thiws could be a very shy girl. Start with her teachers in a private conference. Give her lots of love and you too for raising her-this is a lot to take on. Good luck! don't go it alone get help!

I would have a talk with the preschool teachers and ask if her behavior is normal or if she needs to be evaluated she may just have more energy than others and needs to let it out and if its harmless let her also give her plenty of time to be outside.

I don't know if it's normal but you bring me comfort by posting it. My 4 year old daughter loves pretending to be a dog or a cat; sometimes she'll pretend other things but it's mostly those two. I just think she has such a great imagination - which may not help her too much in Kindergarten next year - but hopefully hearing from me will bring you comfort too, though I'll check back to see if anyone else has any ideas. Sorry to not be any real help.

Hi L., My daughter did this when she was 3/4 years old. Drove me out of my mind!!! She was alwys on her hands and knees flopping round the house being a dog or hourse or cheeta - what ever was her fave animal of the moment. We kept telling her to stop - she didn't. She also did this during pre-school. Every pair of her jeans had the knees ripped out - she hated that but I was not going to keep buying her more pants. She did grow out of it, she's 7 now and does not do this all the time. It is normal - there was a whole group of them at preschool that played like they were amimals. Our neightbor kid did it and our friends little boy (him and my girl usually played like they were hourses). She will sometimes still do it depending on who she is with and what they decide to do. Hang in there - she'll tone it down someday!