“Again!” may be one of the most popular quotes from young children. It’s definitely up there with uh-oh, more, up, and mine. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that your child really wants to re-read the same books, play the same game, watch the same movie, or eat the same lunch for the umpteenth time. You must have guessed by now that your child’s love of the same things and activities are a normal part of learning.
Developing preferences for familiar things actually begins during the third trimester of pregnancy when fetuses get used to the tastes, smells, and sounds they experience through their mother. From infancy to school age, the love and need for repetition is invaluable for gaining a thorough understanding and mastery over various skills because practice makes perfect.
This month we have some ideas to expand on your child’s favorite things that may keep you from going bonkers… again!
P.S. As long as your child is engaging socially with you and others, a fixation on one thing (or several favorite things) is completely at this age. If your child does seem to have trouble interacting with others, or the obsession is so disruptive that it affects their daily functions, talk to your pediatrician to find out if there’s a more serious issue.
