Pefectionist of OCD?

[Amanda Howell]

My daughter is 6 years old and since she was two she has fought me about her shoes not fitting right and her socks also she complains about her clothe still to this day it's never right for her, she can pick out an outfit for school & like it then in the morning when she gets dressed she complains about it! Any advice would be helpful I don't want to have to take her and put her on medication she also is very hyper I don't believe in the drugs that they prescribe to young ones. So any advice would help me.

[Misty]

Dear Tammi,
  My son also displays upset behavior with clothing..Socks not being perfect, shoes, pants. I have used bribery at times that worked. I realized it was a power struggle. I nolonger give in to him. If I pick something out that he doesn't like he'll go get something diff. ex..Socks. He's clothes for school no longer matter since I put him at an academy. (everyday same clothes). He still displays the behavior but not as often.( the no big deal attitude does work.) Good Luck to You..Misty

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Tamai,

If your daughter's only problematic behavior occurs in relation to her clothing, and the hyperactivity you mentioned is not really an interference in her life, I'd adopt a casual attitude toward the problem. Definitely avoid engaging in struggles, permit as much choice around her wardrobe as is sensible, and focus on rewarding her handling the situation with more equanimity. There's no reason at this point, based on your description, to suspect OCD. Consider also that she may have some tactile defensiveness, a type of sensory integration difficulty, that does prompt children to feel uncomfortable about clothing that appears fine to others.