Anyone's little ones partial to collecting things...?!

[Blossom4538]

Our DD (5) loves picking up stones! I think perhaps when she is anxious or overwhelmed. We bumped into her Key Worker from Nursery earlier, who she adored! She stopped walking and started picking up stones off the ground. She also used to lick me the moment she spotted her!
She often likes stones and coins.
She will sometimes search for stones on the ground on the way into school. Is this a common ASD/OCD behaviour do u think?!

Lots of children like to collect things. My dc3 has always collected stones. My dc1 used to collect sticks.

On it's own, it is perfectly neurotypical behaviour.

What else does she lick ?

Yes, dd8 does. She was evaluated for OCD but they think her autism underlies it. She is like a magpie!

Sadly she basically hoards everything and it has a massive impact on our lives. I've started to offer to take photos of her 'finds'. E.g, she wanted to keep a baby chino cup, straw and stirrer from cafes. I can't keep going this, but the photo worked!

She was about 2 when she started it. It can be little toys, junk, anything!