Dealing With Aloofness?

At certain times, the boys will snap into an aloofness state, and getting them out of it is difficult. I know how to stop some of it, but somethings they would not give up. For instance, during bath time they get very excited, dangerous, and will have the "autism behavior" as I call it. They squirt water absolutely everywhere and they do it just because they know they are not supposed to. Being squirted with water is not much fun either. They get so wild that I have to drag them out of the tub. Making them stand up without laughing and clinching their bodies tight is a struggle all on it's own. It is the same thing with eating. Running around in circles like a merry-go-round.

I was wondering if you had any ideas on how to conquer aloofness behaviors. I would like to help them overcome some of this. They have grown out of some of it, but they are able to understand that it is not acceptable. They ARE able to behave.