Is Your Toddler Obsessed With Organising Things?

It’s not strange to catch a toddler lining things up based on shape, colour, or size and being consumed by that activity. Parents, especially first-timers, can see this as OCD. However, chances are your child is just learning and is completely normal.

From 12 to 13 months, toddlers tend to become obsessed with ordering, stacking, or lining things. They line their toy cars, stack their blocks on top of each other, or sort their stuffed toys from the dolls. It’s an important cognitive task that involves fine and gross motor skills, a recommended activity and even a milestone for toddlers.

How to Handle Toddlers Obsessed With Organising Things?

Toddlers can display various interests and behaviours; one common fascination is organising objects. This fascination with organising is their way of exploring the world around them. Understanding how to support and channel this behaviour positively can foster their cognitive and motor skills while encouraging their sense of creativity.

1. Why do children sort, stack, or line their toys?

Organising and sorting is a toddler’s way of processing their surroundings and learning about their environment. It is a critical cognitive task to notice the similarities and differences between objects and learn how to group them. These activities are empowering rather than debilitating. For example, a child may classify a cookie as a round shape or as food. It’s good to give your child such activities so she can learn about different categories of things. A shape-sorter is an ideal gift for toddlers to help them with these stacking and sorting activities.

2. Why do they do it repeatedly?

The constant sorting, arranging, and movement of hands may make it seem like your toddler is obsessed with organising things, but a child needs to do things with her hands before she can do the same with her brain. These activities are a sign of a very active and healthy mind. It’s completely normal and a positive experience. With these activities, a toddler learns to differentiate between different objects based on size, shape, or colour. Toddlers tend to get caught up in any new activity, and they tend to keep doing it repeatedly until they get good at it. They usually grow out of the obsessing stage by 4-5 years.

3. When should you start to worry?

When this organisational behaviour starts to interfere with other normal routine activities, then you can worry about your child having Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) (1). For example, a child with OCD will not step out of the house without having completed a complicated series of tasks, or she may need to shut the door a certain number of times. Such a child uses her organising compulsions to keep the world and the fears associated with it at bay (2). However, OCD is very rare in children. If this organising behaviour occurs with other issues, such as delayed speech, poor eye contact, or lack of bonding, it’s best to consult a medical practitioner to rule out any disorder.

FAQs

1. What are some age-appropriate organising activities for toddlers?

Depending on your child’s age and developmental stage, you can introduce various organising activities such as sorting toys by colour, arranging blocks by size, or matching socks when folding laundry. These activities engage their cognitive skills and promote fine motor development.

2. Should I intervene if my toddler’s organising activities disrupt other playtime or daily routines? 

While it’s essential to encourage their interests, it’s also crucial to establish boundaries. If their organising activities interfere with other aspects of their day-to-day life or become disruptive, gently redirect them to different activities or set aside specific times for organising.

3. Will my toddler outgrow their obsession with organising things? 

As toddlers grow and develop, their interests and behaviours may evolve. While they may continue to enjoy organising activities, they may also develop new interests over time. Embracing and supporting their current interests while remaining flexible to changes is key.

If you notice your toddler lines things up frequently, don’t be alarmed—it’s a common behaviour many toddlers exhibit as they explore their environment and develop their cognitive skills. It in no way signifies a problem in most cases. Stay positive and supportive of whatever your child does; soon, you’ll be able to handle this behaviour normally.

References/Resources:

1. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Nemours KidsHealth; https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/ocd.html

2. What Does OCD Look Like in Kids?; Child Mind Institute; https://childmind.org/article/what-does-ocd-look-like-in-kids/

Also Read:

Toddlers Who Intentionally Move Toys
Why Toddlers Hold Objects Close To Their Face?
Toddlers Shifting Objects In and Out of Containers
Toddler Lining Up or Rearrange Toys – Is It Common?