He's acting really, really weird. Help!?

Question

I am babysitting my 8 yr old nephew. He has a history of doing adverse things i.e. following a girl who is in a different grade back to her class, grabbing her, and telling everyone she's his girlfriend. Everyone knows he is doing this for attention. Now, he's telling me he wants to go in his room strip down naked and pretend he's on a beach! WTF?? I don't recall being this odd or random myself. FYI I told him to finish his math book and he said "I can do that while sunbathing". He's INDOORS for crissakes! Is this common or is this a deep seated mental problem he's developing?

Answer 1

just tell him fine but to stay in his room if he wants to be naked as you do not need to see it. Yeah it is a little weird but not everyone fits the norm

Answer 2

I wouldn't think this is normal at his young age.Mabe you should talk to his parents as he needs counseling.If he is grabbing girls then he has a problem.Someone should be made aware of what he is doing before he goes too far one day.

Answer 3

my guess is that its just a phase. you should really talk about it to his parents, though. he probably just heard it form somebody else.

Answer 4

It's not that weird.  He's just pretending.  He has an imagination.  Give him a break.

Answer 5

LMAO He's 8. Maybe he just likes the beach. When I was 8 I pretended I was a fireman.

Answer 6

i think its a mental problem because kids by age five are already old enough to know fantasy to reality at least to the point they don't act they're at the beach when they're indoors u noe, let ur sister/brother know and mention how odd it is so they can take him to a doctor asap! good luck!

Answer 7

Tell him its not a nude beach and he has to wear his trunks or the lifeguards are going to be mad!   It seems as though he is either doing it for attention or maybe he is just got a different sense of humor and wants to get a reaction out of you.  Maybe you should engage him in entertainment such as a board game.  Or maybe he's just geeky and needs a rich fantasy lifestyle such as playing that card game "magic" or whatever its called.  I don't think he has a mental problem.  After all only a year ago he was 7.

Answer 8

Haha!  that sunbathing thing is funny!  

The telling everyone the girl is his girlfriend is a bit weird, but I don't think it's a mental health situation.

I was a wierd kid myself, and I haven't really grown out of it! haha... it's just become more acceptable because of my age.

As some of the other posters have said - he obviously has a rich imagination, so encourage it, but he also needs to learn when it's appropriate and when it isn't.  That is something his parents should be doing, so have a chat with them.

Good Luck!

Answer 9

maybe hes playing "pretend" I have an 8 yr old, and she likes to play pretend, like shes a care taker to animals and she will have all her stuffed animals out in her room and pretending she is givng them care. Or sometimes she has all her littlest pet shop animals out. or her barbie and I hear her talking in her room when shes alone because shes playing pretend...

I think hes fine, hes just being a kid.

Answer 10

its just his imagination try telling him after he does his work you will play with him and see if he just wants to play with some one you can take notes and see if it really is a concern or if he just wants your attention.