[MLSMOM]

Does anyone else's child rock back and forth and chant? My beautiful, precious daughter is 8 yrs old. I adopted her from Russia (Ussuriysk, near Vladivistok) when she was 12 months. She's healthy, bright, loving, and sometimes I honestly think she is an angel placed here on earth. There's something very strange, though, that she does every night. She rocks back and forth (hard) and does this little chanting thing. It sounds kind of like rapping. She talks about stuff she's done during the day or things that are on her mind and she talks about them in a rythmic, rhyming, singing kind of way. I've always thought is was kind of funny, but I'm getting a little concerned since she's 8 years old and it hasn't even slowed down. If there's anyone else out there who has a child that does the "chanting, rapping" thing, they'll know exactly what I'm talking about. The rocking is so hard that her hair is in knots on one side every morning. Seemingly harmless, but very puzzling. Thanks!

[momraine]

My sister (bio) did this for years. For her there were only two issues, one was there were four girls in the family and no one wanted to share a room with her because of it and certainly not a bed! LOL, the other was her hair would get so tangled in back from the rocking! She did eventually stop as she got older. I can't remember exactly what age though. (I shared a room with the baby and left her and the sister who had bed wetting issues to share a room, LOL)

[MLSMOM]

That's hilarious! Thanks for replying.

[LockStock]

Our 3 y/o daughter does the rocking and chanting (not actual words, but the same sing-songy pattern). She'll either be sitting or laying on her back and she'll start rocking her head from side to side. She has been diagnosed with mild CP a year ago, and I'm taking her back to the pediatric neurologist next week to have her tested for autism. We're hoping the rocking is just a self-stimulating behavior learned in the orphanage (she came home at 14 months), but we've become increasing concerned that it may be something more involved.

[coachmom]

my Guat son did that for the longest time after he came home.. after a while the crib fell apart, he did it so hard..hes 4 now and in a bed but every once in a while I still see him do it..most for comfort I think..
Coachmom

[cborsa7]

I did this until I was around 12. I am not adopted, for me it was just a soothing thing I did. My mom says it started when I was able to sit up on my own. I am now in my late 40's and will sometimes when stressed get the urge to just rock. If you have noticed no other behaviors with this I wouldn't worry to much.

[MLSMOM]

Kelly, do you remember if you sang or chanted when you rocked?

[cborsa7]

lol, Yep, I found my voice very soothing. I've even caught myself doing this in the car at my age when people are looking at me. I know they must be thinking what in the world am I doing??

You know I read a book about sleep issues in toddlers that addressed this as well. I can't remember which one because we've been reading a few. If I can find it I'll post it. I remember thinking "See, I'm normal" lol. It stated some children will do this because the rock and repeat nature of the chant is soothing and can be almost trance like.

I do understand your concerns though, if anything else seems different I would have this checked to be sure.
Good Luck!

[MamaChinch]

My niece and two nephews rocked. The boys stopped sooner than my niece, and she would rock so hard in car it would move the car back and forth. Once we were in my friend's car and she didn't know what was going on! She sings rythmcially when she rocks. She is about to be 11 and it has started to slow down, but only recently has it subsided. The youngest boy does it when he wakes up in the morning sometimes.
Their grandpa said he and his brother did it, and said their mom did it. But my sister has raised them, so I dont' know if it is an adopted issues, it's just one way some kids find to self-soothe. My niece said she does it because it feels good.

[MLSMOM]

Wow. I'm really surprised and relieved to know that so many people have either been "rockers/singers" themselves or have known others. I guess it's nothing to worry about then. She's very smart, social, etc. Maybe she'll outgrow it. My friends and I have joked that her future husband is in for a real shock. She not only sings/raps, but her real feelings come out during these songs. For instance, I'll ask if she had a good time at someone's house and she'll say "sure". Then when she starts rocking, she sing "I..didn't..really..have..very..much.. fun..at..their..house". She'll repeat it in a rythmic pattern. It's hilarious.

[momraine]

Oh yes, my sister's feelings totally came out when she rocked. I remember many times when she was in trouble hearing her chant/sing "my mommy is mean".
One time she was chanting "Rain, rain go away" and I told her it was not raining. She informed me that she was talking about me (she called me Raine) and was mad cause I did not invite her to hang out with me and my friend who had spent the night. (we were six years apart, so I often didn't want her hanging around). My sister also held one arm kind of bent but up in the air to help her rock, I used to tease her that she would have more muscles on that arm from that, so for a while she rocked with both arms up! I know, I was mean.

[MLSMOM]

I am cracking up! Yes, my Madison does the one arm up too. It's actually her elbow that's raised and her hand is over her ear. She says she likes the sound it makes when she rocks. Pretty bizarre stuff.

[MichiAmy]

I just brought home a little one from Vladivostok and she's a big rocker too. My agency has a board and many of the families have discussed on the board how common this is - so I was actually prepared for it. There were 3 little girls at the hotel in Vlad while I was there and all 3 were rockers!

Mine does it at night when she's going to sleep and sometimes when she's stressed out or scared (or just tired!). It amazes me how much of a primal need being rocked is - and most of these kids didn't get it...

[RainyInGA]

We brought Summer home when she just turned 3. She would rock (somewhat violently!) from side to side at bedtime. Her hair to this day gets so matted up I can barely brush it so we have been reduced to braids (works great!) she will cuddle but then say "Mom I need to rock & roll!" so for three years now thats been her thing. Always at night at bedtime. However it is just her way of calming down, then off to sleep she goes.I'm laughing here because its a family ritual to hang out by her bedroom door to hear what she has to say on the days activities!
(sing song always in rhythm)
I -didnt-like- carrots- for- lunch
BRANDON -wouldnt-let-me swing
mommy-says-we -can- go- to- the-park- tomorrow..

I was a tad worried because after three years home I thought it would subside but when I see her handling it at say school.. " Mom? I was rocking & rolling and the kids were staring at me so Im not going to do that there" I know she gets its a little different behavior but not one we worry about. Its cute when big brothers put her to bed they all lie down and start rocking together ( I tried it and boy does it make you dizzy!!!!)
anyway dont worry too much!

[MLSMOM]

It is funny, isn't it? I thought Madison's would subside too, but she's eight and still rockin on! I think it's so interesting though, that they do the rhyme/chant/rap thing. I can see one child developing that habit, but so many???? I'm sure there's some fascinating psycological/neurological explanation for it and I would love to hear it. Meantime, I'm going to enjoy sweetie's little rap songs.