My 6 year old licks her fingers after touching items for no apparent reason. It started with her licking her fingers after touching her private parts after, for example, digging out a wedgy or wiping after the loo or scratching, she still does this occasionally but not as much as before.
She has now started licking her fingers after touching things she knows are dirty, like a rock she'll pick up on a walk. She'll ask if it's dirty after touching it and if she'll get ill if she puts her hands in her mouth, we'll tell her it is dirty and she shouldn't put her dirty hands in her mouth just incase and then she will do it!
Her baby brother has conjunctivitis and she has been categorically told not to touch his eye area or she will catch it so she does exactly this, she will also lick her fingers after touching his face for some reason.
She's also started picking her nose all.the.time and then sticking her fingers in her mouth but she'll do it on the sly when she thinks you can't see her or she'll hide and do it.
Is this normal?
I've tried explaining to her why she shouldn't do it and she understands the concept of germs and the link between them and illness.
I've also tried ignoring it.
I'm having real trouble understanding this behaviour. Has anyone experienced similar?