Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Not sure if I'm being over reactive but I'm worried about some weird behaviour from my DD lately. Over the last few weeks, and the last week it's escalated, she has been "collecting" things and putting them in buckets, tubs andything she can get her hands on.

Let me explain.

She got her small beach bucket and started piling random items into it. Like for example teaspoons, cotton balls, bottle tops, small toys, etc etc. Not satisfied she moved onto small pots from the kitchen cupboard, shoe boxes, bowls etc. When I ask her what she's doing she says "its my stuff".

She also like to always have something in her hands and she carries odd things around, again like tea spoons, cotton balls, balled up tissues, plastic forks etc.

She has now insisted on taking "stuff" to bed with her. Last night she had a teaspoon, cotton ball, a Bob the Builder screw and about 4 bottle tops in her bed.

Am I crazy? Is she crazy? Is this normal?

I have to admit I'm a bit scared by this.....

Please help me.

I think this is likely just a "phase" as my son did similar. I think they are beginning to get a sense of self and ownership.

Instead of trying to take them off her, have you tried suggesting she puts them away on a shelf or something in her room before bed? We did this, and it was 'goodnight xxx' for a while. He then learnt it was still there in the morning when he got up and didn't worry about taking it to bed any more.

Both my boys collect random stuff to put into boxes, buckets etc. I usually remove anything yucky or precious and let them go for it.
They usually pack a little suitcase when we go away and it's always a laugh to see what they've bought.

It sounds just like DS (he's 27 months). I was worried that my slightly obsessive tidying was rubbing off on him because he was always putting things in 'their' place and was sometimes upset when things were different (i.e. when i tired to give him his lunch at the other table etc). I discussed it with the mum's in my mother's group and one of the other little girls is just the same. She hoards things.
I think it sounds ok and it's their way of controlling their world. They are little creatures of habit already.
Jo

Thanks for the reply. Yes she does have some of her things next to her bed. She has her bucket and a shoe box full of things but she simply will not let go of the final few things. I don't want to get her all worked up and upset before bed so I give in and let her have some items in with her. I don't want to make a big issue of it but it's almost getting out of hand. There are literally things piled up all over the place.

DD1 was like that and had her "treasures" - which always reminded me of Gollum in Lord of the Rings and his "precious" - and she liked to put them in a bucket and hoard them. She still does to some extent but nowhere near as much as she used to so I think it is a phase they go through.