Question
I get complaints by school teachers and/or camp counselors about my son's behavior. He uses baby language with his best friend AND it is always when he is nervous, always when he is feeling the expectation of an adult and always when he is over excited.
I would like to understand if it's stimming because I would like to respond better to these adults that are coming to me. He just turned 7 and I feel he’s doing the best he can. I don’t want him to be seen as a disruptive little brat when I think he’s probably trying to regulate his nervous system and having a difficult time. I want to continue to support him with the right language and use the right information to share with the adults in his life so they can understand and support him better. I feel he’s getting singled out and it’s not fair.
Answer
First, congrats on being curious about the behavior rather than wanting to stop it.
ALSO it's NEVER EVER EVER "not behaving" by choice. The behavior is a result of something else happening.
Is it stimming? Only in the sense that the little voice is the outward expression and way he is attempting to regulate both his awkward nervous and anxious feelings, as well as his joy.
The way to manage the adults is to say to them what you just said to me.