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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

Weird 'dirt' thing

5 replies

Midge25 · 13/02/2010 19:08

Dd has just turned 2 and for a few months now, has had a 'thing' about dirt. If she spills food on her trousers/top, and especially if she picks up a bit of fluff/soil/random-bit-of-detritus on her hands, she can get quite upset. She'll shout 'dirt! Dirt!' and on some occasions, there are tears until I've brushed it off, used wet wipe to clean top etc. What do people think? Is this just a weird toddler thing, or something more sinister? Dh and I have joked about OCD, but when I saw dd playing in the sandpit and meticulously avoiding getting any on her palms, I started to wonder. Fwiw, we aren't particular 'clean freaks' so don't feel it can have come from us being over anxious in this area....

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LadyOfTheFlowers · 13/02/2010 19:10

I think some children go thru this.
DS2 did - anything got a spot on it, clothes wise, and I had to change his clothes.

He is 3 now and if he eats a choc biscuit or something he won't lick the chocolate of his fingers, that's dirty, it has to be cleaned of with a baby wipe or with soap and water.

CharlieBoo · 13/02/2010 19:17

Yeah that's normal my ds went through this at 2 even now he HATES sticky hands and painting at school as it gets his hands dirty. I sometimes in the past have done messy play with him to encourage to get dirty and it does help. Keep explaining you will wash/wipe them after the activity. At school disco the other night my ds friend ate couple of crisps then said I need to wash my hands, it is common, just don't pander to it too much x

Igglybuff · 13/02/2010 21:29

Maybe she's picked it up from someone - my niece is 3 and obsessed with dirt. I think it's because my parents are constantly wiping her hands/face if there's the slightest bit of muck etc etc so she's got the idea that dirt it bad...

hellymelly · 13/02/2010 21:34

My dd went through a phase of being really bothered by any dirt on clothes,or loose threads (!)and I worried about OCD as FIL has mental health probs but she slowly got less bothered about it.She is still a bit prissy about her clothes but not to a degree that it would stop her playing /climbing/riding her bike etc.I think a lot of little ones go through this.

thisisyesterday · 13/02/2010 21:53

it's just a weird toddler thing!

ds1 was the same, to the extent that he would not touch sand, or walk on grass barefoot or anything like that.
he is 5 now and still doesn't like eating chocolate biscuits, or anything else that gets his fingers messy but he's definitely miles better than he was

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