Why Do Kids Develop Obsessive Interests?

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With Christmas around the corner, I’ve had many family members ask “What are the Kids into these days?”. They grow up fast and when shopping for gifts we all want to please. This question is often easy to answer because young children quickly develop obsessive interests in concepts and characters such as space exploration, princesses, dinosaurs or trucks. But do these interests become obsessions because we as parents encourage it, or is it a natural part of growing up? If the latter is true, what purpose does it serve in development?

why do kids develop obsessive interests pin

What Do Kids Gain From Obsessive Interests?

Attention from Adults & Peers

Kids naturally seek attention from parents and those older than themselves. As a busy mom of three, I know how easy it is to brush off conversations sparked by my daughter with a quick “yeah, that’s great” response.  I’m not giving her my full attention at all times because in all honesty conversation with children is not always deeply interesting to adults. However, if a child surprises with an impressive display of knowledge or interest on a subject they can quickly capture an adults attention. 

In describing a 4-year-old boy’s intense interest in dinosaurs, a 2007 study reports:

He peppered his parents with detailed questions about dinosaurs— how they lived, what they ate, how they hunted, and so on.

I would argue that obsessive interests are fueled by the attention they receive from friends and authority figures such as parents and teachers. Kids like to impress… who doesn’t?

why do kids develop obsessive interests reading

Increased Focus and Concentration

Studying and collecting information is a mature skill, and we have to start somewhere. By obsessing over an interest in trains, a child can quickly develop their investigative skills. It requires focus and concentration to sit quietly studying a book on dinosaurs or repeat the same video game until it’s complete. Although we naturally seek new knowledge and skills, it takes some time to understand the benefit of hard work. Through an intense interest, children begin to understand the fulfillment of in-depth knowledge. If only this level of focus was easy to apply to homework!

Why Do Many Kids Share the Same Obsessive Interests?

My boys are a bit of a clique; they love dinosaurs, trains and dump trucks. Why are so many kids obsessing over the same things? Is it us as parents pushing a stereotype, or do children naturally find these things interesting for good reason? Why do we find certain concepts so fasinating?

Fear

At around 18months my daughter developed a severe phobia of airplanes. Not riding in them, but hearing and seeing them in the sky. She became obsessed to the point she no longer wanted to go outside into the garden because she was worried one would fly overhead. However, alongside this phobia grew an interest in the planes themselves, and she loved any pictures, toys or stories about planes. It seemed to develop as a coping mechanism… a need to understand the very thing she was scared of.  

why do kids develop obsessive interests dinosaurs

I have heard the same said of the common interest in dinosaurs. It’s their scale, ferocity and unusual appearance that sparks the imagination. A mild sense of fear that encourages intrigue to learn more.

Social Status

Particularly applicable to older children, it is natural to want to impress our friends with an exceptional interest in the latest craze. It may be a popular band, Disney movie, or video game. Maybe it’s a sports team or fashion statement. As an extreme follower of a current trend, you gain social status as your peers are wowed by your collection of memorabilia or memorized song lyrics.

It’s totally cool to have a unique interest, but it’s also normal to enjoy sharing your interest in a competitive manner. Proving yourself as the ultimate fan can become an obsession in itself.

Power

I have worked with hundreds of boys who were fascinated by dinosaurs or some form of weapons. Perhaps these interests involve issues of power, fierceness, and control. Girls who have a fascination with princesses and horses may reflect themes of  beauty and authority. (Psycologist Randy Kulman, Toca Boca Magazine)

I believe all the obsessive interests described above can be grouped into the concept of power. A beautiful Disney princess is just as powerful as a Tyrannosaurus Rex when it comes to authority, a digger and a horse both powerful beasts. I suppose fear, social status, and power are all concepts we learn as we grow up… all required to understand the mechanics of society. 

why do kids develop obsessive interests princess

Are Obsessive Interests Healthy?

Although it is natural for children to develop obsessive interests, things can get out of hand. Intense interests (sometimes called ‘restricted interests’) are often associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). One of the characteristics of autism is for children to obsess over an interest or object to the point of withdrawal from social interaction.

Children with autism may be so consumed by their interests that they don’t pay attention to social information… children with autism fail to develop social skills because they lack interest in all things social. (Sarah Deweerdt, Spectrum News)

This does not make playing an XBox all day a diagnosis of ASD, many children find a intense interest without any long-term impact on their social development. But it’s worth considering where the line is between an avid interest and a socially destructive obsession.

The prevalence estimates of intense interests in NT [Neurotypical] children show these behaviors are common, particularly in boys, with a developmental peak occurring during the preschool years. (Cambridge University Press. Research paper: Interests in Higher Functioning Austism)

It is difficult to know when an obsessive interest should be encouraged and when parents should try to redirect activities to encourage healthy behaviors. There is no definitive line between a healthy interest and an obsessive one, so all we can do is use best judgement and seek medical advice if we’re concerned.

If you’re looking for advice on mental health or need help looking for a therapist, find more information on therapists near you and online at BetterHelp.

Final Thoughts

I love seeing my kid’s interests grow, it allows us to watch their personalities develop and creates opportunities for discussion and play. I believe staying active in kids’ interests helps them remain open and social, and reduces the chance of withdrawal and obsession. Plus you get to be a big kid yourself by joining in!


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About the author

Katherine is an electrochemist, hiking enthusiast, and family lifestyle blogger. As a mom of three, including twins, she enjoys DIY, travel, and eating good food. British born, Katherine moved to the US in 2014, and now called Las Vegas home.

10 thoughts on “Why Do Kids Develop Obsessive Interests?”

  1. This is very interesting. I’ve never really thought about how obsessive our girls were about things like movies or tv shows. Really, they were very much creatures of habit.

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  2. This is super interesting! My son gets very obsessive about things. He’s always been that way. It’s all he talks about and all he wants to do. My daughter is not obsessive about things.

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  3. I am so glad to see you writing on this topic! I do not see it covered enough in media so thank you! I had an obsessive interest as a child but that was in the dark ages lol. I am so glad we are opening up as a society and able to identify problems before they become a real issue. I do believe sometimes these obsessive interests can be healthy but we need to keep our eyes open to them.

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  4. My kids have some of the obsessive interests but they do jump from thing to thing too. I think it is important to let kids develop and find things they love and enjoy. This is a really interesting topic. Thank y ou.

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    • It’s true, I do love it when they discover something they’re passionate about. You start to see their unique personality coming to light!

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  5. This is such an interesting post! My kids have gone through some phases where the ONLY thing they would think about was one specific thing. I’m a bit OCD so I figured it was ‘like mother, like child’ lol!

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  6. I really like what you said about same obsessive interests. It also could be about the siblings, just a wild guess here, could it depend on the gender of the siblings and if you have two of the same do they share similar interests? Say you have a boy and a girl and close in age, they will either share interest in the same toys or stick to their own. Using my own experience, my brother got a tool belt and hard hat for his 3rd or 4th birthday and I was always seen wearing the belt. But growing up we got similar gifts if not the same gifts to make sure there wasn’t any disputes. As far as stereotyping gifts, there is a lot of that present in the toy making industry but it greatly depends on the parents to allow their children to explore and play with anything that is in their presence (as long as its age appropriate and not dangerous of course).

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  7. I have 3 kids and they have different things they like to do, I never really thought of it as being obsessive, but after reading this, I am intrigued. All the points you mentioned truly affect a child and how power plays in its formative years…I think it’s alright to let them be interested – as long as it doesn’t affect their overall well-being.

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    • Agreed, I’m sure most of the time it’s harmless fun and just a growing interest. I love thinking about how these interests are shaping you they are to be in the future though!

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