Toy Hoarder

[SandeeAR]

My own kids never did this, so it is new to me. I have a 19 mo, dcb, that spends several times a day, just carrying 5-6 toys in his arms. He continues to play with them. Will drop one for another toy, but still has several in his arms.

He is an only child. I thought he was doing it at daycare to keep the toys from the others. However, (this one is like our grandkid), he spent the night with my DD Friday and did the same thing at home and in the pool, with the pool toys.

I ask Mom this morning and he is doing the same thing at home.

Any ideas as to why? Do you have kids doing this? How long does it last? ::::

[MG&Lsmom]

I'd be interested in this as well. I have one that does the same thing, but he's older 2.8y, and is also a only child. He does do it to keep the toys from others and will purposefully try to hold onto a toy long after he's done with it just so my son can't have it.

[erinalexmom]

This is for the OP sometimes kids this age just like to carry things I think. I know Ive seen little girls that age carry around little purses and things. Is it a problem that the other kids want to play with the things he has? If it is maybe you could try an alternative thing to carry? Like a scrap of blanket or something? or a small little bag? not sure if that helps?

[Symphony]

I have an only child that does this here and at her house as well. She is 27 months. I let her do it for the most part because most of the stuff she carts around is random and no one else wants it (ie one potato head arm). I do draw the line with three behaviors

-sometimes she will just walk around with her stash and yell "No mine!" at any other child who so much looks at her.

-she started making piles of stuff when she ran out of room in her arms. I am not going to guard her piles or allow her to do so either.

-if she is not actually playing with anything, just pacing and obsessing over her stuff, I thin it out.