bathroom issues | ADHD Information

our ds loves to play in the bathroom mirror. just making faces and talking to himself. i almost have to stand there while he washes up after potty. he lets the water run and run and seems to be in some sort of stare; in the mirror or looking at his hands. same with brushing teeth. i've limited him to two min. in the bathroom for washing hands and brushing teeth. the timer didn't work; he just turned it for more time. i ignore this behavior but after a while; years, it's not any better. what's the deal? any ideas?oh I hope you get some ideas, my younger daughter does this. Drives me crazy! She will be at gymnastics and will supposed to be warming up or listening to the coach and she's voer in the mirror sticking out her tongue and making faces at ehrself. She spent her whole dance class every week last year doing the same thing, amazing she knew the routine for the recital!Same here she loves the mirror so much she gets distracted and drips dry.  She also loves to play with the soap and water but she also as sensory issues. My son loves the mirror too. You almost have to stand and watch him brush his teeth and wash up at the sink or it doesn't get done. A few times i yelled upstairs for him to wash up and brush his teeth and that i'd be up soon to tuck him in. I've gone up five mins. later and he doesn't even have the toothpaste on his toothbrush and the only thing wet is the sink or the mirror. My son too likes to play with the soap. He can't seem to resist poking holes in it or tearing chucks off of it.

Matt'smom

I wish I had good solution to this problem.  My 6 yr old son has the same problem.  The only thing that has worked recently is a reward system.  He loves to get new toys, even if they are trinkets.  He gets a star for everything he does without a lot of hassel.  Going to the bathroom from beginning to end is a challenge for him, so he gets a star if he flushes, washes hands and brushes teeth without a lot nagging and in timely manner, although, sometimes I do still have to remind him of the stars.  At the end of the day we look at the list and put stars on the things he's done well, included are showing respect, chores, etc, (12-14 items). After a week he gets to go to the $ store and pick a toy.  We've only been doing it for a week and half but it has helped, although some days are better than others.

Good Luck!

3lilz's39359.8668865741Isn't it funny how are adhd kids do similar things.  DS is almost ten and he plays in the bathroom.  Sometimes it is entertaining, other times not.  He plays in the shower too and I could swear there is a war going on in there.  One night DS opened a tampon and my husband caught him with it.  He was just playing with it and wanted to know what it was for!!