to invite you to make wild speculations about a child you have never met?

[Greensleeves]

I just want to hear your spontaneous, unfiltered thoughts on this behaviour. Child is about 7 or 8, no older.

• Goes for long walks alone, talking to self and staring at the ground.

• Picks up sweets/bits of used chewing gum off the pavement and eats them, and thanks the street for giving them something nice, berates the street for being mean if they don't find anything

• Gets hugely obsessed with odd projects for days at a time, such as shaving pieces of wood into tiny bits to make sawdust for a rabbit hutch, cutting paper into tiny squares to re-tile a doll's house, grinding up pieces of quartz to make "talcum powder"

• Steals things from shops that they couldn't possibly actually want (example: a bottle of Lipcote for making lipstick stay on longer, or hair curlers)

• Becomes obsessed with a particular friend and is possessive, exclusive and manipulative, with things like secret languages and lots of in-jokes to reinforce the friendship

• Picks at skin/chews lips/bites fingernails constantly, picks nose, has no sense of not doing these things in company

• Is highly intelligent, academically able but cries easily and gets into trouble for silly behaviour

Any thoughts?

I would wonder what was going on at home tbh...

I'm a bit uncomfortable about this. Are you talking about yourself, your own child or someone else's child?

Not me or my child, but someone known to me - I don't want to give any more than that. Check my posting history if you're not sure about me.

If this is genuine my first thought would probably be that the child either had some sort of mental health issues or was a victim of neglect.

I doubt Greensleeves is 7 or 8

Do her parents talk to her about her habits (nose picking etc)?

Sounds like neglect.

Is it young Sheldon?

I think neglect is a bit harsh, no reason to see that. But could be high-functioning autism given they are smart but lacking in social skills or understanding of 'normal' (whatever that is) behaviour.

Come to think of it, I went for walks on my own talking to myself and staring at the ground when I was that age and I was not neglected at all, just a bit weird!

Autism or early symptoms of schizophrenia along with neglectful parenting due to the long walks alone and the not being stopped from picking up unhygienic stuff from ground.

Some of those traits would make me think they had send which isn't my business.

I'd seriously question why a 7/8 year old goes on long walks alone. My 8 year old doesn't go anywhere alone.

Additional needs of some sort. If it is now I would be wondering why they are out wandering on their own.

I recognise three or four of these habits (but have no expertise). I'd think this is a child who is lonely and unhappy and attempting to self-soothe, and that they would benefit from a lot of one on one attention from an adult and gentle introduction to group activity.

I'd expect that with that sort of support, they would grow out of this behaviour.

Parents do tell the child to stop it when nose-picking or blowing spit bubbles etc.

Child also pees on bedroom floor and will stuff to the point of vomiting at parties.

Interesting that people are saying autism and/or neglect, or maybe both. I see some indication of ASD behavious too, but not all of it fits.

I will not speculate, but the kid might benefit from going to CAMHS to get checked out.

It is extremely unlikely that this child has schizophrenia though. Early-onset schizophrenia is very, very rare anyway, and that term usually refers to those who start to display symptoms age 13 - 18.

No 7/8 year old should be going on long walks alone regardless of sn.

Some sort of additional needs?

Sorry, the thread title is my off-colour attempt at irony, because I know it's a bit of an odd ask and people are quite rightly wary of internet-diagnosing children. I just wanted some wider initial thoughts and impressions (because I'm worried) and MN is a great resource for that.

As a social worker i think there are many signs there of a neglectful upbringing or possibly abuse.

that used to be very much me, just I didn't steal from shops ("borrowed" from parents' wallets thought)

From what you've said here, I would say the parents should seek a referral to CAMHS for an assessment.

What are the parents like?

and no, I was not neglected or abused, on the contrary maybe

FishCanFly, do you mind me asking whether there was any developmental issue or problems at home, or whether you think this behaviour doesn't necessarily mean cause for concern?

Are you aware or suspicious of any neglect? The long walks alone sound a bit worrying and the picking stuff off the floor and stuffing to the point of vomiting are red flags IMO.

I can remember playing very complex mental games with myself at that sort of age, but I think even my mum in the far more laissez faire '70's would have noticed and prevented the picking up and eating of vile stuff from the pavement! I would also expect her to have spotted and dealt with shop-lifting.

ASD at various levels is fairly common in my family, my dad and one of my nephews have it to a major life affecting degree and one of my daughters has mild but definite symptoms. As an adult I have realised that some of my personality quirks are likely to be ASD related. I wouldn't be remotely surprised if this child on examination proved to be significantly along the spectrum.