Do you think this is concerning?

[AllOutofEverything]

My 8 year old DD is drawing on her bare leg using her saliva. Sorry I know it sounds gross. I have asked her why she does it and she says she does not know she just likes it. I have suggested she draws on paper instead but she says she prefers this.
Has anyone come across this before? I have never heard anyone doing this before. And do you think it is concerning or just a phase I should ignore?
Thanks.

Unless she’s got other sensory issues too or you have other concerns I’d file it under “weird stuff kids do”. Most people have some kind of stim (hair twirling, hair chewing, jumper sucking, fiddling with pens etc) and that’s fine but ones involving playing with saliva are unhygienic and to be discouraged. One of my children is autistic and does similar sorts of things sometimes, but alongside many other traits, I wouldn’t worry if it’s only one thing she’s doing.

I suspect it’s more the feel of something wet on her leg that she likes rather than the drawing aspect - would she accept a wet cotton wool pad or water to dip her fingers in? Something else to fiddle with like a piece of blu tack, slime, a fidget toy? What does she do if you ask her to stop?

I suspect she’ll just grow out of it though, it’s almost certainly a phase.

I wouldnt worry

It’s what kids do - filthy creatures at times. I wouldn’t worry.

Thanks. She does fidget a lot but can also focus if she needs to.

I’ve literally tonight just watched a documentary on children’s bizarre behaviour! According to what I’ve just watched, behaviour like this is completely harmless, and if there’s no disturbing behaviours accompanying it then sometimes it’s best ignored. The doctors were suggesting what pp has just said, discourage the behaviour but try to replicate it with something else. There was a child in the program that was impulsively eating anything made out of paper, including books, cardboard, wallpaper etc. They said it’s harmless so just ignore or try to replace with something they’d prefer to chew 🤷🏼‍♀️

This wouldn't worry me at all. Kids are weird and disgusting

I’d file it under “weird stuff kids do”. so would I! I used to do this too as a kid - I had dry skin, which is probably the reason.