My 5 year old son does strange things.....?

Question

*if he wears a button shirt the shirt has to have EVERY button buttoned all the way to his neck

*if he wears a jacket it has to be ALL the way zipped up and the sleaves HAVE to be folded over once, (same with the long sleve shirts)

*he wont wear pants/jeans with buttons, (they have to be the elastic/streatch waistband

*he wont wear shoes with shoe strings, they have to be the velcro kind..

AND if he doesnt have these things done, cause Ive tried putting my foot down and making him leave a couple buttons unbutton e.t.c (it looks better) and I see how uneasy it makes him feels and it will constantly bother him all day until its the way he wants it, like he gets anxoius and nervous and he's been like this for a couple years now, and he's so consistant with it and when were out he constantly checks his neck to make sure all the buttons are still buttoned and constantly checks his sleves to make sure their folded, so is this a aneixty thing or him just being picky?

Answer 1

well It might not be a big deal, and kids can grow out of stuff like this but I'd say being a mom myself,   sounds like OCD which one of my daughters has and maybe a hint of Autism, another thing I deal with. but I would just ask his pediatrician on his next visit what he or she thinks! Don't worry to much til you ask his doctor!  :)

Answer 2

Although that "sounds" like OCD, pickiness at this stage of childhood is completely normal. Young children need consistency and familiarity, and his clothing is probably one of the only things he can directly control. Don't be too concerned about the way his clothes look--he's not being obsessive compulsive, he's just being a kindergartener.

Answer 3

I'd say... both.

Perhaps the fact of you being so picky doesn't make it easy for him to stop doing it without "giving up".

In any case, he's just 5 years old. I wouldn't dare to claim this is a "obsesive/compulsive" behavior (as it would if he were older). Kids may get picky about certain things for a period of their lives and, one day, they forget about the whole thing. And by making a big deal of this, you're not giving him the chance to forget this on his own.

I'd say, give him some time without mention this. Take this as if it were a mere game.

Answer 4

Sounds to me like he's five years old.  

Don't make a big deal about it.  Let him be comfortable.  This will pass.  Or, it won't & he'll always wear his shirts the way that they feel most comfortable to him.  Eventually, peer pressure will make him think about being more fashionable.  Or, if he's strong in who he is & what he likes, it won't.  

Does it really matter how he wears his shirts, shoes, pants, etc?

Answer 5

Sounds very much like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Get him checked out immediately!

Answer 6

Its actually the early stages of adhd. my brother had it and it developed at about 4-5 years old. bed sheets could have NO wrinkles. Loops on shoelaces HAD to be EXACTLY even. etc....

Answer 7

sounds like OCD or a mild form of autisim but he would have been diagnosed with that by now so im thinkin OCD

Answer 8

Talk to your doctor/pediatrician...sounds to me like OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

Answer 9

sounds like ocd take him doc or see health visitor good luck

Answer 10

Sounds like OCD. Talk to your doctor, see a therapist, try something like Bio-feedback. I have OCD too. What I've found that helps the most are pills, natural things that are good for the mind. You can look up online what and how much of he needs. (sense his age, gender, height, and weight are different from mine I can't say)

Answer 11

sounds like childhood obsessive compulsive disorder. you should talk to his doctor or have him evaluated by a child psychologist. i had that when i was young and i grew out of it without any intervention.

Answer 12

LOL.  My little boy has autism and a ton of OCD characteristics.  Personally, I wouldn't be to worried about either.  A lot of kiddos have things they do to stimulate themselves and/or make them feel secure.  I would try some other options, before you take him to the doctor.  (unless of course you think it is severe enough to...your his parent, nobody knows him better than you).  It sounds to me like this behavior is done more for his own comfort.  He likes to feel the pressure of his clothes.. the waist band, folded sleeves, and buttons up your neck all make your clothes feel tighter.  Maybe you have already tried these things but I would suggest maybe getting him a wrist band or a watch so he can feel that tight heavy sensation on his wrists, things like that, different solutions to the same problem.  Also, remember he just might like the way he looks.   :)  Little boys tend to think they are VERY handsome.  Praise him when his shirt is unbuttoned a bit.  Tell over and over how handsome he is... Which I am SURE you already do!  :)    I will say, way to watch your kiddo!!  Noticing the little things that make him tick is a great way to show him how much you love him!

Answer 13

It does sound like childhood OCD and most times they grow out of it. Talk to your pediatrician.

Answer 14

It could be OCD but what if he has a fascination with Lewis Farrakhan.Or God forbid Pewee Herman.

Don't worry he will probably out grow it. h**l one of my girls acted like LINUS from peanuts till she was 10 now she is the hottest thing going.

Answer 15

This isn't him being picky, this is YOU being picky.  If you think shirts look better with a few buttons undone, then wear YOUR shirts that way.  Don't make him.

OCD?  ADD/ADHD? Are you people all nuts?  This sounds like a normal kid.  If he wants to button his shirt all the way up, let him.  Maybe he likes the elastic waist band pants and velcro shoes because he wants to be a big boy and do it himself and the zippers/buttons/shoe laces require help.  As long as the clothes he is wearing are appropriate (not shorts and short sleeves when it is 30 degrees outside), who cares what he wears?  My five year old daughter wears shorts over her pants about once a week to school because she really wants to wear those shorts but it is too cold outside.  I think it looks completely ridiculous, but you know what, she doesn't and neither do any of the kids in her class.  She is one of the most liked kids.  I take my daughter to school everyday. A couple of months ago she missed almost two straight weeks being really sick.  Her first day back, she got mugged by half the class the second she walked in the door.  Old boring people care about how many buttons you button and weather the zipper is all the way up or not.  Kids don't.  Let your kid be himself, for pete's sake.  And for the love of all that is holy, please don't start trying to diagnose him with something like OCD or ADD/ADHD over this.