Can a 2 year old be hyperactive?

[adgal]

Hi there.  My son is not quite 2 (will be in January).  He is an incredibly busy child.  He requires a lot of physical activity and can't sit still for more then a few minutes.  He does not have what I would consider a behavior issue beyond the normal toddler pushing boundaries stuff.  He seems quite bright, has a good vocabulary and is incredibly curious about everything.  Sometimes he listens, sometimes not..lol.  But no aggressive behavior or anything. He is very very social and interacts well with other children his age.  I had no concerns about his extremely high level of activity (if fact, thought that his level of activity was a healthy thing) until a friend who also has 2 boys said that her boys were never that hyper and his constant running, climbing and the fact that he is almost constantly in motion is way more then normal for his age.  She told me to have him evaluated for hyperactivity?  Isn't this normal toddler boy stuff?  Or is there the possibility of a problem here and I'm just missing it?  I should mention that he is in a really good daycare 3 days a week and they have never expressed any concerns either.  Of course though, the comments from the friend are now stuck in my mind and I worry.

[allmymarbles]

Sounds like a great kid.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

You are on the right course by continuing to enjoy your son as he grows and develops. Might he eventually be characterized as hyperactive? Of course that might occur. But it is way too early to conclude such a diagnosis. Why? Because two-year-olds are by nature active, and development has to run its course. At your son's young age there is nothing to be gained by pursuing any assessment re: hyperactivity. And you should be reassured by the situation at daycare, where no concerns have been raised. My advice would be to nicely disregard the advice of your friend as well meaning but unimportant.