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Answered in 9 minutes by:
3/9/2011
cathy, Mental Health Professional
Category: Mental Health
Satisfied Customers: 1,436
Experience: MS., MS.Ed., 30 years clinical and administrative experience in psychiatry and mental health
VerifiedHi and thanks for writing JA
First off, it is fairly normal in creative children. It is extremely common in rare children which is to say, he might very well have some talent that he might later cultivate for stage or screen. I see no mental health issues but clearly he was found a creative way to find attention.
Mimicry, what your grandchild is doing is one of what we identify as one of the four types of play: The others being: agon (competitive games), alia (games of chance) or vertigo (roller coaster rides and the like) so when he mimics he is playing. He is trying to get your attention by cultivating the skill of mimicry.
I cant see that this is a problem but if it is very disturbing to you or his parents you can seek therapy. Young people who can do this are most often considered gifted or talented and not ill so if it is a huge problem by all means seek professional help.
That said, if he were skilled at an agon (say that he could play Vivaldi on the violin which would be considered agon) would you be as concerned?
Let me know and warm regards ***** *****
If you are interested in reading more about play and its definitions you can go to your public library and check out the book: Homo Ludens (Man at play) by Johann Huizinga. I think that might help you a lot.
Cathy
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