Normal or NOT?

laurensmom · 03-09-2010, 10:46 PM

OK. My DD will be 3 in June. Basically her entire life, since she could speak (sentences, at 16 months), she has been super particular about her bedroom. Her room is very very tidy.....she rarely plays with any of the toys that are kept in her room. If she does, she always makes sure they are put carefully away. She is NOT like this in any other part of the house

At night when we take her clothes off, she will literally freak out if the dirty clothes are left inher room accidentally. I mean frantic crying for a looooooong time. Same with if a drink cup is left in her room. She will not allow any new items to be brought in....got a doll bed for christmas had to convince her to allow it in....and she then covered it with a blanket (so it cannot be seen) along with a doll and it is still covered, she will not uncover it. If I move an item, or put a new thing in her room (stuffy or something) she notices right away and cries until it is removed....

odd....or two year old behaviour?

tansie · 03-09-2010, 10:49 PM

Um, does seem somewhat odd to me... but I only have one child to compare to. My DD's room looks like a bomb went off!
As she was growing up and taught that that was her room, was it done in such a way that maybe she is just trying to keep control over something that is HERS alone? Have you ever talked to her about keeping her room tidy?

Grasping at straws... I think I would be more concerned if it spilled in to every room in the house, but I would keep an eye on it.

laurensmom · 03-09-2010, 10:51 PM

We have never discussed keeping her room clean. She is pretty messy in the rest of the house

xojessica · 03-09-2010, 10:57 PM

DD1 is a constant cleaner. If there is the tiniest crumb on the floor she will pick it up an d say “blahhhh“ and throw it in the garbage. If her little people blocks are mixed in with her megablocks (even just one) she freaks out.

Maybe it is a learned behaviour? Do you clean a lot? Are you organized?

my2babies · 03-09-2010, 10:57 PM

I don't know if it's normal or not, but neither of my kids are like that with the rooms (unfortunetly

)

laurensmom · 03-09-2010, 11:00 PM

Our house is pretty neat and organized.....but the toys are just in baskets and by the end of the day, it sometimes is a bit cluttered (we are a small space). I certainly don't freak out if somethng new is brought into my space.....I usually am excited about it

LemonSqueezy · 03-09-2010, 11:00 PM

DS is 2 and is sort of like that. He will notice if we change anything in his room and if he doesn't like the change, he lets us know. For example, when we put a new nightlight in his room, it took most of the afternoon for him to “adjust“ to the change.

He has no trouble playing with toys in his room or making a mess in there. It often looks like a bomb went off in there. It's just at night time that he seems to notice anything new.

Sorry, I don't think my post helps at all, but wanted to share that DS has some of those traits and we consider it normal

Tan5kids · 03-09-2010, 11:12 PM

Noah is pretty particular about things in his room.

At night time mostly.

I bought him a new star gazer light for at night ... He refused to have it in his room.

Each night before he goes to bed, he makes me take something... and put it on he dinning room table. It really varies too. One night it might be a book, the next a car.

He does not like any of his noisy electronic toys unless they can be turned off...

hmmm I wonder now if he is a little strange. He also cannot stand any kind of wetness on any part of his clothes.

Sorry I'm not much help here

laurensmom · 03-09-2010, 11:15 PM

That does sound a LOT like my DD, Tan. She often makes us take something out of her room and put it downstairs. She will also not allow any of her toys with batteries in her room. I am glad mine is not the only one....

Mamarazzi · 03-09-2010, 11:15 PM

It might be a control thing. Little kids dont have much control over their life, so this may be a way to control something - her room/space. Is that a possibility? If so, you could start giving her options in life - which outfit do you want to wear? What kind of sandwich would you like for lunch? Do you want a pony tail? etc...

Tan5kids · 03-09-2010, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laurensmom

That does sound a LOT like my DD, Tan. She often makes us take something out of her room and put it downstairs. She will also not allow any of her toys with batteries in her room. I am glad mine is not the only one....

hmmm I have no clue if it is normal

Noah is a very bright just turned 3 year old. But he has always been so ... strict almost with his things.

But since he is just so cute and lovable... I'm going to vote Normal for him and your DD

lhastie · 03-10-2010, 02:36 AM

Mine isn't like that with her room (same age, just turned 3) in terms of making it all neat.... however, she is very particular about where some things are. You wouldn't believe the things that we will leave where she left them in case it important for her to know they are still there. We've had screaming fits, hysterics and yelling because something was moved that she needed to have in the exact same location.

I think it is a control thing, they want to be able to control some of their environment. Sounds like for your little one it is her room. Mine is a bit more random, some things I can clean up around the house, but if it is something special (a special toy of the week, little trinkets she has found, who knows!) then it is a big deal.

rachel0722 · 03-10-2010, 11:11 AM

My youngest DD was much like this, minus the neatness part.
She did not like anything ''different'' in her bedroom and would notice right away if something was added that shouldnt be there.
I can tell you that now, at 6, she is soooooooo not like that anymore. I wish she was a bit neater though.

*allie* · 03-10-2010, 01:58 PM

I think it sounds a bit odd, but could be explainable. Like others said, she has control over the space, so that might be a big part of it.
Another thing I'd consider is that that is where she sleeps. I know sometimes even my six year old will want me to turn the light on so he can look around if we've rearranged, moved, or added something. MAybe the doll was kind of freaky looking (too realistic? wild hair? eyes that watch you?) or she just dislikes the shadows of her room changing?

I wouldn't be worried yet, but would probably consider yeah, it's not entirely common behaviours imo but not alarming so...something to watch maybe?

Vanessa · 03-10-2010, 02:09 PM

my son does not think toys should be in his room. stuffed animals are ok, he has a toy box full of books, dirty clothing in hampers etc are fine but no trucks, trains or anything like that
kids have their own thinking and sometimes i dont get it either.