Am I a mean aunt?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At 6 it can be normal, if she's impulsive and sensory-seeking. However, all you need to do is talk to her and take the stuff away, because she's not doing it on purpose to spite you, OP, and so you need to teach her to resist habit and impulse, which takes time. My DD was like this too. So weird after DS, who is a sensory-avoider and would never touch food with his fingers.

No, its parenting. Stop blaming sensory. If your child has sensory issues, they need a neuropsych as there is generally more going on.

[Anonymous]

My nephew was super impulsive and like this when he was younger. It drive me crazy and I made sure to not leave food on the counter or put it on the table for people to share when we were all eating. When they were a little older, the other cousins would call him out on it and that was more effective than anything any adults would say. He’s 12 now and long grown out of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in the city, so whenever people come in, I direct them where to wash their hands. And with kids I'd just tell them it's a house rule. "Everyone has to wash their hands before eating."

And if she didn't stop sticking her hands in food I'd put the food away. It's that simple.

Same. All kids wash hands when we come in and are about to eat. And I would have moved food out of her reach the first time. And then directed her to a helpful activity (setting the table?).

I don’t think how you handed it was “mean” though.