Sensory Processing, OCD, or Something Else?

Honestly, she sounds like a toddler. You could fit those reactions into the rubric of sensory issues, but either way, many, many little ones have some kind of fear/reaction that seems irrational to adults. It's a phase, like monsters under the bed. They just about all outgrow it within a few years.

My son was no fan of sand either. Was petrified of wind. Pretty much, the world ended if he got a wood chip in his shoe. And, he's outgrown it all, though he still struggles with swimming. What's stayed is the good stuff -- he's a cautious, thoughtful kid. Thinks before he acts.

I wouldn't force it or make a big deal out of it. Just make things a game, like you've been doing, and don't react too much if she acts scared.

I wouldn't worry. My oldest could not STAND anything that she thought was "dirty." She hated having anything at all on her hands - food, play dough, anything. She's a very intelligent, college educated schoolteacher now, but some moms and kids found her very odd as a child. :) My husband can't stand anything he even thinks might be sticky or gooey, and is totally grossed out by all bodily functions or fluids. He won't even put pills in his own mouth for fear of getting saliva on his fingers - he sucks them up like a vacuum. It's so weird, but totally harmless.

My son is on the autism spectrum, but he's a sensory seeker. Honestly she sounds normal. She doesn't like new textures that are "too much" - sand is nasty - shoot, adults don't like it either. It's really small rocks, basically so if she's sensitive, she's not going to like it. Grass is sharp - some types are very soft, but some are VERY pokey.

If you are a super clean loving person, she will get that from you. If you make sounds when she gets dirty, she'll do the same. Some kids just don't like getting dirty.

Try to show her, but if she stays uncomfortable, stop pushing it. Let her adjust in her own time.

She's just a cautious child. My now 18 year old daughter still hates the beach because of the sand and salt residue on her skin. when she was younger she was constanting asking to go to the pavilion so she could shower off. My son, on the other hand would roll in it until his ears and nose and crotch were crusted in sand. But my daughter always wanted her hande cleaned off if they got sticky and to this day won't eat a PBJ snadwich becuase the jelly gets on your hands. When my son was in his highchair I'd turn away for a minute only to find him covered in yogurt.

Sand feels wierd. Wearing shorts feels wierd on your legs after wearing pants and socks all winter. (especially living in the northeast!) Let her immerse herself on her own schedule. WE are so quick to suspect something bigger than it is. You know, we read webMD and are convinced we're dying...

Your litle girl is fine - she's just learning about the world - after all she's only been on the planet for less than 2 years!

I don't think you should be "forceful," but exposure to these things is probably a good idea.

I remember my youngest son being afraid and shivering and shrieking over a pile of kittens. Lol.

None of the above, some kids don't like some textures until they get used to them, like the grass. Two of my kids were like this, no big deal, they have no issues now. The one who actually has sensory issues walked on, played with, sometimes ate, every surface out there.

For sensory issues, you need an occupational therapist who SPECIFICALLY deals with these issues. Do your homework in finding someone to evaluate her for this. A series of OT sessions could really help your daughter. Avail yourself of the help.

As far as I know, EI doesn't look for sensory issues. My son got EI for some assorted issues, and he had sensory issues to be sure, but they are sort of outside the scope of EI. You really only need to pursue this if it significantly impacts the quality of her life and ability to function in a classroom.

She's fine and she'll get over it sooner or later.
Kids go through phases of liking/disliking things all the time.

While our son is always cautious in social situations (Is always quite at first in school), the first time we took him to a beach he threw himself down and made sand angels.
He couldn't WAIT to roll in it.

I saw a little girl at the beach once who just shrieked and cried about being there.
Her mother couldn't figure it out - she LOVED the beach last year.
But this particular year she was a toddler and she noticed how big and loud the ocean was and how little SHE was and it just overwhelmed her.
Her Mom held her as much as she could and eventually she got over her crying - but it took hours.

This is COMPLETELY normal. I love watching kids' first experience with grass and sand. They all hate it and have to get used to it. Everything you have described seems completely normal. I have one daughter, two step sons and eight grandchildren and every one of them have been the same with sand and grass.

BTW, I wouldn't really encourage too heavily playing in the sand. Kids get ringworm from playing in the sand because cats use all sand as their litter box. I personally find sand to be gross just because of the feces aspect.

My friend's daughter was just like this with sand (and at first grass) when she was little. She hated it. They took a vacation to Hawaii when she was about your daughter's age and that is when they realized it. Anyway, they just kept doing things like you are...encouraging her to touch it, saying how nice it felt, how fun it is, etc. She outgrew it eventually. She's 10 now and dirt/sand/whatever is not a bother to her. By the way, they also encouraged her to use her senses more and play in the mud, paint with shaving cream, etc. It took her a while bc she didn't like getting dirty or didn't like how things felt. I don't know exactly when she outgrew it...but by school age for sure.

Could be a sensory issue. I myself have a special needs child and my job is to teach him to live in the world. I would encourage her, show her how much fun it is, expose her to it frequently (as well as all things she's overly sensitive to) and it should lessen with time. It worked for us. There are only a few things he doesn't want to try now. I can live with that.

She is still very young. I wouldn't worry. I thought my middle child had SPD when he was that age, for some of the same reasons. He didn't like sand, grass, he walked on his toes (a sign of autism) and he hated scratchy fabrics and tags on his shirts etc... I had him evaluated, he was fine other than speech. When he was in kindergarten, and still toe-walking, I took him for PT. One of the things the physical therapist asked about was my pregnancy and complications. When I told her I'd had gestational diabetes, she asked if he'd had a lot of heel pricks in the hospital to check his blood sugar and he had! She believed there was a correlation between that and kids who walked on their toes. He's 8 yrs old and still hates cold floors, sand and grass. He will tell me it bothers his heels to put them down on that stuff. Interesting!

One of mine did this the 1st summer he was walking with grass. Took a few weeks to get used to it. Then the next winter, he did it with snow. I would carry him out, and he wouldn't put his feet down. As I lowered him towards the ground, he bend his knees higher and higher. Then, same with sand the first time. Each time, it took multiple exposures before he was comfortable.

Is he sensitive to textures? Yes, this is the same kid who can't stand if the seam isn't straight on his socks, or if his sock has a wrinkle in his shoe. But does he have a sensory disorder of any kind? No, this is within the range of normal.

I don't think you need to be more forceful - you don't want a power struggle over this. But you could increase the frequency of exposure so it doesn't seem new every time.

I don't think you should jump to the conclusion that because you have a picky toddler, she's got SPD or OCD.

I sort of thought the same thing about my youngest - she was WAY more extreme that what you describe, actually gags on food, screams at things, etc - and she grew out of it. She's almost four. I probably even posted about it if you look way, way back.

My suggestion would be to just give it some time instead of trying to diagnose a young child with a label. Kids are often very quirky, and that doesn't mean there is something wrong with them. I'm seriously so glad I didn't pursue that avenue.

And, I mean - is it really important that she like sand? I don't like sand. And no, you shouldn't be more forceful with her in making her touch things she doesn't like - that has the chance of making this situation worse instead of better! I almost want to PROMISE you she will outgrow this - just let her be picky for awhile.

I think it's pretty normal. I remember my older daughter's preschool having a table with sides on it, and they would fill it with different things. Sand one day, shaving cream the next day, water, pudding, finger paints. Things of all different textures. They explained that kids can have a hard time at that age (my daughter had just turned 2, as had most kids in her classroom) with the way different things felt, and some of the kids were bothered by some of the textures. Apparently exposing them to these different textures several times (over a period of weeks or months) would help them get over their dislike of that texture. Anyway, maybe it would be a good idea to get a similar table for your daughter, and just try putting different things in there for her to play with?

The table I'm talking about looked something like this:

http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/Product/ProductDetail...

She sounds normal to me. My daughter hated the sand last year (she was 20 months). and this year at 32 months she loved the sand. My daugther in general is slower to "adapt" to some of the differnt things. She did not like swimming last year and now, if her suit is in sight, she puts it on and wants to go (even thought it is only in the 50s).

I have a sensory seeking child, and he is all over the place. He had no fear of anything , even authority. He is gaining that now.

No, do not be forceful! Just let her be, she will enjoy it in due time. Just like with the grass.

Good luck.