Hoarding Traits In Utah Children, What Parents Should Look For

Houses overwhelmed with clutter was once the focus of tv shows and the term "hoarders" became a part of popular culture. Studies since then have resulted in a better understanding of the disorder and what to look for in children.

Identifying Hoarding Traits in Children

Utah is known for families and these parents are looking for the best for their kids. New understanding has shown that traits of hoarding can be identified in children as young as 6 years old.

Hoarding is defined as a distinct mental health condition characterized by difficulty parting with possessions regardless of their worth or actual value. It is associated with social anxiety, ADHD, and depression.

Prevalence of Hoarding Among Children

Surprisingly as much as 6% of children show signs of hoarding. The reason this doesn't seem like a big problem in early ages is because parents keep it from getting out of control. They don't allow the clutter to build up.

These aren't just kids with messy rooms. The difference is that these children will hang onto items with no value and struggle or become highly agitated if they are asked to remove them. For example, one young girl became frantic when the family replaced the old living room couch.

The good news is that they have also made inroads in treating the underlying causes of this behavior. These traits are often are seen after a traumatic life event. Helping the child process the trauma of the event can also help them stop the hoarding behavior.

This is a better plan than just trying to get them to stop collecting things. It isn't helpful to make fun of or try to shame the child. Rather, parents should look for the root cause behind the hoarding and provide help in these areas.