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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

How do you deal with obsessions? Getting me down

12 replies

Fugghetaboutit · 14/04/2015 08:50

My ds (2.4yrs) is completely obsessed with bins.

Everywhere we go he has to point them out, runs up to them and touches them (until I stop him). He won't really play much in the playground anymore as he's just focused on running from bin to bin.
It really annoys me.

At home he's obsessed with the kitchen one. Puts things in it, opens it all the time.

I've tried - ignoring him, shouting, distracting him and pointing out other things. Doesn't work. Do I just ride it out?

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Original poster

Fugghetaboutit · 14/04/2015 09:07

Bump :)

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BertieBotts · 14/04/2015 09:11

Wait it out. It's normal, he'll grow out of it! Bit mean to punish him for it. Although of course outside bins will be dirty, so explain that and make sure he washes his hands. Maybe get him some toy bins so that he has a clean one he can touch? You can get little bin lorry sets with wheelie bins, a set with small characters called bin weevils and even a little pedal bin for his room that he can throw things in.

He's probably being more obsessed because you're trying to discourage it so heavily.

BertieBotts · 14/04/2015 09:12

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Original poster

Fugghetaboutit · 14/04/2015 09:15

Thank BB, He's got one of those, thought it would help. Did for a few hours. I don't see where I've been really horrible to him apart from shouting once to not touch them as it's ongoing all day and is v testing as he runs towards them and I have to follow every 10 yards :(
The bins at the park are full of dog shit, drug paraphernalia and beer cans so I'm really worried he'll catch something.

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Original poster

Fugghetaboutit · 14/04/2015 09:18

Also, he knows they're dirty and disgusting - we watched a Bing episode where bing says it and it understood. His speech and understanding isn't great though

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Cobo · 14/04/2015 09:19

Yes, I would try to channel it away from the elements that annoy you (touching outside bins, playing with the kitchen bin) by encouraging it elsewhere, ie. with bin related toys, as mentioned. My DS was also obsessed with bins and bin lorries, they grow out of it.

mawbroon · 14/04/2015 09:56

No tips, but mine is the same.

Except he's 5yo and this has been going on since he was 2.

He knows not to touch bins out and about just from repeatedly telling him that they are not for touching.

It's very handy though. We have 5 different types of bins for waste and recycling and I never have to look up the calendar because he knows which bin goes out on which day and whether this week is green bin or brown bin

Original poster

Fugghetaboutit · 14/04/2015 10:33

It's been going on for weeks already i see all the other kids playing in the sandpit and he's got his head in the bin

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Guin1 · 14/04/2015 10:42

Great to hear about other bin obsessors! My DS's bin obsession began about age 1.6yo and 'be-be's' dominated every outing - the dog poo bin at the park was far more interesting than any play equipment, every bin at the shopping mall had to be tapped, walking down the street on bin day was a complete no-no unless we had a lot of spare time, etc. I remember listening to him talking in his sleep one night - he gave a deep satisfied sigh and murmured "the be-be" with great love in his voice.

I have to say that I found it quite amusing - part of his personality emerging, although we never encouraged it. We did have to place the kitchen bin out of his reach and washed his hands when we got home from park/shops/etc. Perhaps you could carry a little bottle of hand sanitiser on outings?

He grew out of it gradually after about 4 months. It was replaced with a fleeting dalliance with toe fluff. He's now 2.8yo and although he gets very excited by the weekly appearance of the bin lorry, I think that has more to do with his general (and much more abiding) love of all things wheeled than any residual bin affection.

indieblack · 15/04/2015 00:33

I have a 2yo soil obsessive and feel your pain. Other kids go to the playground for the slides and swings; my boy's all about picking up and dropping soil and bark chips over and over again. Hoping he's a geologist in training but who knows...

Fingers crossed that they grow out of it or mix it up at least

Original poster

Fugghetaboutit · 15/04/2015 07:11

Guin I did laugh at your ds talking in his sleep

I'm going to be more light about it. I do find it funny sometimes but it reached a point it was all he talked about and played with all day

indie my ds is obsessed with putting the wood chips in the bin in the playground

Maybe us three should meet up and leave them to it

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Nancyclancy · 15/04/2015 12:06

This has bought back some memories My ds used to be obsessed with gravel & bark. Play parks really could of just consisted of the bark and we couldn't walk past a gravel drive without him wanting to run up them and throw it. He would have a complete melt down if he was told he couldn't.
He was also obsessed with Oast houses?????? He could spot an Oast house on the horizon that we would never have noticed.
I can't remember when he outgrew his obsessions, but he's 15 now and is no longer obsessive.

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