A. It can be an underlying problem if it is disruptive at school and if he does it so much that it bothers other children and they don't want to be around him.
However, if he is otherwise growing and developing normally, it doesn't necessarily mean that there is a specific condition that is causing him to do it.
There are a number of conditions that are associated with children being very 'touchy' like this though, including ADHD. But what your child's teacher is likely talking about is Sensory Integration Disorder, which is also called Sensory Integration Dysfunction.
Children with Sensory Integration Dysfunction often have extreme sensitivity to touch and other senses and can have symptoms of ADHD, such as easy distractibility and impulsivity. They also can have social problems and developmental delays.
Keep in mind that children often don't like being touched like this, so even if you don't think that your child has any kind of disorder and that this is just a part of his personality, it is likely something you should help him control. This is especially important if he is getting in trouble at school for doing this.
As with other 'bad' habits, it may help to do some role playing, where you pretend to be another child at school, and help him to practice talking and respecting the personal space of others. It can also help to offer lots of positive reinforcement when he talks and doesn't touch too much. If it becomes a bigger problem, an evaluation and treatment by a child psychologist might also be a good idea.
If you don't think that this is a problem at all, then you might ask if the school counselor or somebody else can observe your child at school and get their opinion about what he is doing.
Helpful Books
- The Out-Of-Sync Child - Recognizing and Coping With Sensory Integration Dysfunction
- The Sensory-Sensitive Child
- Is My Child OK? - When Behavior is a Problem, When It's Not, and When to Seek Help
- Quirky Kids - Understanding and Helping Your Child Who Doesn't Fit In- When to Worry and When Not to Worry
