Most
little children have some item that they appear not to be
able to do without that they cuddle up to when they are tired
or upset. This can be anything from an old soft toy to a piece
of soft fabric and is perfectly normal behaviour.
These types of
objects provide security and comfort to a child, particularly
when their environment is changing, as it provides a link with
home. A mother of a child I once taught confessed that her 3
year old was so attached to the corner of her pillow that when
she started nursery school and wouldn’t leave the house
without it, she off the corner of the pillow and put it into
her school bag.
Whatever the state of the object
in question, it is invaluable to the child and great stress
can be caused to them if the object becomes lost or destroyed.
Difficulty also arises when the child has become so attached
to the item that they won’t relinquish it under any circumstances.
Security blankets will need to be washed and parents often have
to employ their creative skills in order to prise the blanket
from the child, wash it and return it clean and dry with the
minimum of fuss. Equally when a blanket is starting to wear
out, a good idea is to increase the blanket’s lifespan
by cutting a piece of the blanket off and sewing it onto a soft
toy, chosen specially by the child for this purpose.
