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Germ obsession

3 replies

PercyJ · 01/03/2024 20:27

My 5 year old daughter in year 1 at school has started doing some 'weird', things. I'm not sure if I should be seeking support from somewhere or if it's normal, and something to ignore.

It started with rubbing her hand along surfaces and legs and when asked what she was doing she said she was removing the germs from her hands.

It's now escalated to rubbing her hands across her face and hair multiple times a day and particularly when she is eating. She said it's to get the germs off her hands, so we've given her a wet wipe to do this to stop getting food in her hair.

Now when she's eating food, cereal for example. She will take the food off the spoon and then clean the spoon with a wet wipe, she said it's to get the germs off!

Last night she was rubbing the arms of my glasses and I asked her to stop, she told me she was getting the germs off for me.

We've tried telling her about good germs and bad germs, as we know they have learnt about germs at school. But she is still doing it, today she had ice cream and as she had no wet wipe, she was rubbing the spoon along her cheek after every bite!

Should I be seeking support or just letting it go on till she grows out of it?!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
CadyEastman · 01/03/2024 22:04

I would definitely seek some support. She seems to have a high level of anxiety. Have you spoken to her Teacher about it yet?

PercyJ · 03/03/2024 18:57

Thank you for your reply. No haven't spoke to her teacher yet, will do this week

OP posts:
CadyEastman · 03/03/2024 19:01

Yes definitely talk to her Teacher, ask her what she's noticed, what she's recommending and if she's noticed any other little quirks.

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