Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi parents!
Im starting to get concerned for our 7y/o since she started displaying odd behavior. I noticed that over the last couple of months she’s been just being random
objects home from school. Whenever I ask her about it, she’d say she does the “gift exchange” with friends, whenever they don’t like some things of their own. I found a key, that looks just like my house key, and to be honest, just got a bit freaked out that she might have taken it from someone. I feel terrible having these thoughts about my own child, but we all know kids can develop these behaviors because they don’t necessarily thing they are wrong and I am also reading that collecting random objects has something to do with anxiety and “establishing their identity”. Yes, we did have a sit down, especially when this just started happening at first and I told her not to accept anything else that doesn’t belong to her, but I still find a key, or a lock, hair clips, etc.
any thoughts?

I don't know what on earth you read but this is not your 7 year old having "anxiety".

Yeah this is your 7 yo being a 7 year old. "Establishing their identity" made me laugh. If constantly collecting rocks, random non crayola crayons (seem the most valuable) and squishes (which are just lint collectors and gross) helps establish my DD's identity I'm afraid to ask what she thinks she is. Hopefully a future geologist? An artists that uses unusual materials? Maybe a marine biologist who specializes in jelly fish?

Anonymous wrote:What is it with rocks and sticks? We have a giant pile by the front door because the rocks from school and the park are not allowed in the house.

We have a rocket bucket. In total insanity this a rock bucket from when we lived in a townhouse and DD collected rocks then too. We loaded the bucket in the car when we moved and put it in the yard of the new house. It's now overflowed we need to get a rock basin.

Anonymous wrote:Hi parents!
Im starting to get concerned for our 7y/o since she started displaying odd behavior. I noticed that over the last couple of months she’s been just being random
objects home from school. Whenever I ask her about it, she’d say she does the “gift exchange” with friends, whenever they don’t like some things of their own. I found a key, that looks just like my house key, and to be honest, just got a bit freaked out that she might have taken it from someone. I feel terrible having these thoughts about my own child, but we all know kids can develop these behaviors because they don’t necessarily thing they are wrong and I am also reading that collecting random objects has something to do with anxiety and “establishing their identity”. Yes, we did have a sit down, especially when this just started happening at first and I told her not to accept anything else that doesn’t belong to her, but I still find a key, or a lock, hair clips, etc.
any thoughts?

I don't know what on earth you read but this is not your 7 year old having "anxiety".

Casually ask how they came to get it, how they play with it, etc.

I was fine with stuff they found. But if it was a “gift” I made them return it. I also had a rule that I needed to know of all gifts they were giving.

Yes, they find a shiny rock or a bottle cap even and pretend it’s valuable. In school, they find a ridiculously squatty, small, over-sharpened pencil and think that’s cool. They are kids!

What is it with rocks and sticks? We have a giant pile by the front door because the rocks from school and the park are not allowed in the house.

Anonymous wrote:Many find items outside during recess and put them in their pocket. They play with the random items at recess, too.

+1 for a bit my DD and fellow 3rd graders were into rocks. Had a rock club. Random rocks she was sure were valuable kept coming home. When she brought a 5lb mini boulder home I said enough. But all the kids exchange random things. I’m always like what’s this and she says so and so gave it to me.

Absolutely agree! Thanks!

Many find items outside during recess and put them in their pocket. They play with the random items at recess, too.

I would definitely ask the teacher-- my DD is a 3rd grade teacher, and she recently discovered one of her students was taking things home that didn't belong to him.

I don't think it's at all terrible to be open to the idea that your child could be doing something wrong. What's terrible is to be sure your child is always doing something wrong or to be sure your child could never be doing something wrong.

My kids do this too - they find things on the playground, label them gifts and send them home with their friends. And vice versa.

Return the key to school and see if the Teacher knows of a classmate missing a house key

I wouldn't worry. Kids that age exchange gifts. Also, my DD has always been a collector and picked up cool things she found throughout the day. Some kids just really like finding treasures.

Just make sure she's not stealing your house keys to give to friends

Hi parents!
Im starting to get concerned for our 7y/o since she started displaying odd behavior. I noticed that over the last couple of months she’s been just being random
objects home from school. Whenever I ask her about it, she’d say she does the “gift exchange” with friends, whenever they don’t like some things of their own. I found a key, that looks just like my house key, and to be honest, just got a bit freaked out that she might have taken it from someone. I feel terrible having these thoughts about my own child, but we all know kids can develop these behaviors because they don’t necessarily thing they are wrong and I am also reading that collecting random objects has something to do with anxiety and “establishing their identity”. Yes, we did have a sit down, especially when this just started happening at first and I told her not to accept anything else that doesn’t belong to her, but I still find a key, or a lock, hair clips, etc.
any thoughts?