If you have a young child than chances are that you know all about toddler obsessions. Whether it is cars and vehicles or princesses, Spiderman or Elmo or even something stranger (I’ve met toddler who were obsessed with vacuum cleaners, towels and rocks), having an obsession over something is both normal and fleeting.
So when your child wants to wear her Dora the Explorer Pajamas everywhere, including the grocery store, or if your toddler will only drink out of one particular sippy cup, then what should you do?
Well, first you can understand that these little obsessions are perfectly normal. They allow a young child to act our her creativity as well as provide some good old fashioned security.
Your toddler is learning that the world is a big place, and familiar objects and themes give her a sort of home base to refer back to. Having control is a big deal for young children, and little things, such as what to wear or which cup to use, can have a big impact for them.
At the same time, around three-years-old, a child’s imagination suddenly takes off. He can actually imagine what it might be like to be a race car driver or leap over tall buildings. He can roar like a lion and feel more secure.
Another aspect of these little obsessions is a sense of self. You may hear your child introduce himself with his name followed by what he likes as in, “I’m Henry and I like Cars.” This gives another child, or an adult, a chance to relate to your child. Two children on the playground both wearing Little Mermaid shirts may go up to each other because they have something in common.
The best thing that you can do as a parent is to try to go with the flow. Choose your battles and let your child explore her current obsession (believe me, she won’t want to act like a kitty cat forever). You can, however, set some limits to make everyone happier, such as allowing her to wear the cape at home or the store but not at church.
As long as your child has a normal social life, chalk the obsession up to something cute that you will smile about later. Plus, consider it a ready made theme idea for the next birthday party.
You can read more blog posts by Mary Ann Romans here!
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