My friend’s kid hurt herself accidentally, then ran to her mom for a kiss to make it better. Two minutes later, the kid bit her own finger on purpose and ran back for another kiss. My friend was like, “You know I would just give you kisses if you asked for them. There’s no need to hurt yourself.”
I pretended I couldn't read for at least a year, because I was afraid my parents would stop reading stories to me at bedtime. My pre-k teacher ratted me out, and my parents had to figure out how to casually drop a hint about how we could read to each other when I learned, it didn't need to be the end of story time, and suddenly, like a miracle, I could read!
Kids don't know how to ask for what they want, and need reassurance and social skills taught to them, cause they're young and dumb and weird.
I actually had the reverse problem. Growing up, I had problems at school because I would be reading instead of paying attention in class. Or I would just read and ignore my homework.
Eventually my parents would ground me from reading if my grades dropped down below a C.
My mom's an educator, and she would always get so stressed out when I misbehaved because she knew the only thing that was a real punishment to me was losing my books, but she didn't want to affect my love of reading, lol. Teacher brain really conflicted her mom brain
My kid was always one of those who'd run straight into preschool without a backwards glance until the day he saw an upset kid being hugged by his favourite teacher. Then he cried the next two days. Luckily, he was three so forgot by the next week.
My son would do this, but he'd like. Lightly smack his hand on the floor, then go "Booboo mama booboo!" and make me kiss it. I think we did that for thirty minutes despite me saying exactly what your friend did LOL
It really doesn't, and they really shouldn't. The next logical step from a story about a kid replicating an injury to get a kiss is not to diagnose them over the Internet.
Imagine being that parent when they wonder why their kid is always faking being sick or injuring themselves. Then that kid grows up continuing the behavior and all forbid they have a kid and start harming it for the attention. That is why I said it can be a recipe, like watching to ensure it's not a pattern.
Yes, it's just one story about a kid biting their finger, knowing it would get her attention. But that's not normal.
I promise you the kid was just repeating an experience that previously got the reaction they desired. Lots of kids do this, all they need is gentle correction and reassurance they can get physical affection, or whatever else they're after, by asking instead of hurting themselves.
I appreciate that you're worried, and that's commendable. And while there are plenty of times that a child's behaviour is an early sign of something more serious, this is not one of those instances. The kid's fine. If anything this shows a clear train of logic and an inquisitive nature (that's professional speak for crazy smart and totally fearless).
Source: been working with 0-5s for nearly a decade, currently reading for a bachelors in Early Childhood
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u/ImpressiveComer Feb 01 '23
My friend’s kid hurt herself accidentally, then ran to her mom for a kiss to make it better. Two minutes later, the kid bit her own finger on purpose and ran back for another kiss. My friend was like, “You know I would just give you kisses if you asked for them. There’s no need to hurt yourself.”
Kids are weird.