Have you ever seen that show “Hoarders” on A & E? Friends had told me about it, and I didn’t understand why they talked in such horror about some of the stories until I watched it. Hoarders can be suffocated by their own stuff! Seriously, some hoarders save EVERYTHING…even their empty twinkie wrappers. Yes, if you aren’t sure, that is garbage to you and me.
This show made such an impact on me that I immediately went through my stuff and got rid of a box load. I also looked at my husband and told him that, “I don’t want to be like them! Do I have tendencies? I’m scared.” Because, solid fact, hoarding is a disease – just like asthma (which I have), depression, and ADHD, and you may not know you have it until it becomes problematic. Now, I am not a medical doctor – don’t wanna be and don’t try to be – but I may have diagnosed my daughter as a hoarder. Can children be hoarders? I wonder if hoarding can start as early as five? Maybe I need that medical degree, after all.
I’ve spoken with a few readers and friends, and it seems it may just be a developmental thing to “hoard” familiar items for the 10 and under
crowd. The items may be sentimental or comforting; but, here’s the thing – I caught my daughter going through the trash today, because I threw away a fire safety brochure from school. Seriously, she can’t read it yet. Why does she need that brochure? (By the way, I didn’t throw it away willy nilly, I read it first – even though I already know my fire safety. C’mon, I’m 40.).
Anyhow, I just wanted to share a few things she is hoarding:
- A string from a couch cushion. She said it was a snake and freaked out when I said it was trash, and immediately hid it in her room.
- One of those plastic things that look like straws inside new shoes? Yes, she has one of those she calls a treasure.
- ALL of her preschool papers.
- A piece of yarn that had pictures from catalogs. She created it as a “Christmas wish list” from TWO years ago. I tried to take it down from her room and she cried.
- She has a drawer full of *stuff* – some old drawings, some household items I’ve wanted to throw away (like tags that hold the bread package?), boxes that held toys…
If I don’t get to some things immediately, like the boxes toys came in, she’ll take it and hide it in her room. “I need that,” she’ll say. “Why?” I’ll ask. “Because,” she’ll say, and then leave it at that. I let it go and try to talk her into getting rid of stuff, but she hasn’t been ready to part with anything. One thing my husband and I started doing was having the kids each box up a paper grocery bag of toys. If they get rid of a full grocery bag with books and toys, they are allowed to get one new toy in exchange. We’ve done this a couple of times, but lately, my girl will barely part with a McDonald’s Happy Meal toy – even if it is broken or missing parts because the dog chewed it up.
I am hoping it is a phase. Has anyone else experienced this with their children? If so, do you want to share how you handled it in my comment section? I know I could use a little guidance.
OMG! My daughter – 7 is the same way. She has the top bunk and I swear it’s like her nest. There’s books, crayons, random pieces of paper, I found a box of Mike & Ikes, etc.
When we get boxes in she immediately wants to save them for ‘projects.’ David and I thought about hoarders as well. No advice other than letting her watch Hoarders w/o implying anything :0)
Liv said “boy she should throw that junk out.” Later she cleaned her room :0) But every time I change her sheets, I find stuff..
OMG!!! I laughed while reading this entire story. I can just see your cute little one trying to save all her treasures. 🙂 BTW~ One of the featured Hoarders from the show lives out here in Ville. I have to admit I have driven by more than once. When her stuff starts to take over the YARD (both front and back) you might have a problem. Good luck!