Jodie Egan, the worried mother of Ethan called police about 9.30am to report her son Ethan had been missing since early that morning.

Amid growing concerns for young Ethan, police car after police car streamed to Lake Albert and Plumpton roads as the search widened for the youngster from suburban Kooringal.

However, after several anxious hours, and to the relief of his family, the young boy was discovered about 2.30pm after visiting a neighbour's house, only five doors from his own home.

There were grave concerns held by police and members of the Volunteer Rescue Association for the welfare of Ethan, after he was missing for almost five hours.

Seven police cars and five Volunteer Rescue Association vehicles spread throughout the city after a brief meeting to plan the search was held on the lawns of Jodie Egan's home about 1.30pm.

Mrs Egan could not contain her fear at her son's out-of-character behaviour as the hours since his disappearance grew, but was overcome with gratitude for the attending emergency personnel when her eldest son was found safe.

"He is really well-known around here and in the community, he visits a lot of the young kids at their houses," she said.

"This was not normal; he usually comes back all the time to check in.

"It turned out he had been at a friend's house the whole time, I'm just glad he is home.

"I just want to say thank you to everyone for their concern and help."

The Kooringal Public School kindergarten pupil was found walking back down the street by a neighbour, and appeared unperturbed and unfazed by the attention surrounding his arrival home.

The youngster appeared very agitated and annoyed at the disturbance that had been made to his day, declaring "he had just been with a friend".