# Is this a normal child's behavior? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 17, 2006, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-normal-childs-behavior/340314 "2006-01-17T04:09:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-normal-childs-behavior/340314/1 "2006-01-17T04:09:28Z")
Is it normal for children to dress their favorite stuffed animal? I’m thinking this is harmless. The child loves the animal and treats it as if it was human. Perhaps it is a form of parenting? The child seems himself as the parent and thus dresses the stuffed animal as if it was his “child.” Anyway, am I right in thinking this is harmless and may actually be a good thing as the child is learning responsibilty? ---
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-normal-childs-behavior/340314/2 "2006-01-17T04:18:00Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Is it normal for children to dress their favorite stuffed animal? I’m thinking this is harmless. The child loves the animal and treats it as if it was human. Perhaps it is a form of parenting? The child seems himself as the parent and thus dresses the stuffed animal as if it was his “child.” Anyway, am I right in thinking this is harmless and may actually be a good thing as the child is learning responsibilty? It certainly sounds harmless. I know I sometimes dressed my stuffed animals when I was little. ---
**Author:** ![stringy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@stringy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stringy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-normal-childs-behavior/340314/3 "2006-01-17T04:22:23Z")
It’s a very natural thing to do. I dressed all my toys when I was little, whether they were stuffed animals or dolls, and so did all of my little friends. I didn’t think that real animals needed clothes, or that my toy animals were actually people. It was just something to do while playing. Kids have a very limited experience, so when they play games they often copy things that they do in their “real” life. It’s good practise for them, and shows that they care for anything that belongs to them. I’m wondering why you’re asking though - are you new to spending time with children, or has someone been telling you that dressing up stuffed animals is strange? It really is a very common thing for kids to do, and I would think it’s part of normal development. Plus, it’s very cute to watch them do it 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-normal-childs-behavior/340314/4 "2006-01-17T04:24:06Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Is it normal for children to dress their favorite stuffed animal? I’m thinking this is harmless. The child loves the animal and treats it as if it was human. Perhaps it is a form of parenting? The child seems himself as the parent and thus dresses the stuffed animal as if it was his “child.” Anyway, am I right in thinking this is harmless and may actually be a good thing as the child is learning responsibilty? I am confused–in what way would this possibly be harmful? This seems on its surface like the least controversial question ever asked on these boards :). Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-normal-childs-behavior/340314/5 "2006-01-17T04:26:33Z")
I even put earrings into my stuffed animals’ ears, after I’d gotten my own pierced. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-normal-childs-behavior/340314/6 "2006-01-17T04:27:48Z")
I’m very new to children. Since I’ve worked in education for six years, although always in the office, I’ve decided to get out and spend a lot of time with real children. So, I’m volunteering to spend time with children, mainly Katrina evacuees, but any children who need company. ---
**Author:** ![Greywolf73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@Greywolf73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greywolf73)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-normal-childs-behavior/340314/7 "2006-01-17T04:54:17Z")
I’d say it was completely normal. Then again, my son is obsessed with our Roomba vaccum, pretends to feed it and even puts a blanket over it before he goes to bed at night because he’s afraid it’ll get cold… Hmm, on second thought perhaps I’m not the best person to define “normal” child behavior. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-normal-childs-behavior/340314/8 "2006-01-17T04:58:45Z")
Kids dress dolls and toy soldiers. My wifes’s cousing even dressed her (real live) cat. Dressing things is probably about as normal and harmless as it gets (though there are some cats one shouldn’t try this with). ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-normal-childs-behavior/340314/9 "2006-01-17T05:21:41Z")
Whenever I got a boo-boo as a child (probably not much beyond preschool age), my two favorite teddy bears also got Band-Aids in the same spot as mine. ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-normal-childs-behavior/340314/10 "2006-01-17T05:28:12Z")
When my son was little he had a Mickey Mouse doll that was _meant_ to be dressed. It had a little zipper, and buttons and shoes with laces to be tied. It was supposed to help teach kids how to dress themselves and practice coordination. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-normal-childs-behavior/340314/11 "2006-01-17T05:33:06Z")
Hell yes it’s normal. Growing up, my sister and I used to dress up our dolls and stuffed animals in our old baby clothes. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-normal-childs-behavior/340314/12 "2006-01-17T05:39:55Z")
“My child likes to laugh and play. Should I be concerned?” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-normal-childs-behavior/340314/13 "2006-01-17T06:53:31Z")
If people at the dog park can put sweaters on dogs, then a child dressing a stuffed toy seems fine to me. I am pretty sure I did the same thing as a kid. It’s just modeling how one’s parents dress/care for the child. I’d be worried if the child was ripping apart/setting on fire, etc. to a toy. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-normal-childs-behavior/340314/14 "2006-01-17T07:01:01Z")
> [@Savannah](#): > > I’d be worried if the child was ripping apart/setting on fire, etc. to a toy. No, it is the exact oppostie. It usually involves the child making sure the animal has a blanket if it is cold and making sure the animal is wearing clean underwear! ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-normal-childs-behavior/340314/15 "2006-01-17T07:09:05Z")
Quite normal. Even if it weren’t, it’s a kid’s job to be weird. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-normal-childs-behavior/340314/16 "2006-01-17T07:11:00Z")
> [@Gary T](#): > > Kids dress dolls and toy soldiers. My wifes’s cousing even dressed her (real live) cat. Dressing things is probably about as normal and harmless as it gets (though there are some cats one shouldn’t try this with). I did this to both the cats we had growing up. They were married to each other multiple times, despite them both being (neutered) males. One of them seemed to enjoy it, and the other didn’t. It might have had something to do with the fact that they were both always brides. Poor Patches, insulting what was left of his manhood. I’m sure the frilly bonnet didn’t help. That’s pretty progressive for a cat. ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-normal-childs-behavior/340314/17 "2006-01-17T07:44:20Z")
\*\*Greywolf73, \*\* that’s too cute. It’s perfectly normal to dress one’s stuffed animals. Kids have been known to do much weirder things. ---
**Author:** ![Baine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Baine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baine)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-normal-childs-behavior/340314/18 "2006-01-17T07:52:19Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > “My child likes to laugh and play. Should I be concerned?” > > 😉 Those are the early signs of a serial killer. You better start the electro-shock therapy. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-normal-childs-behavior/340314/19 "2006-01-17T08:00:04Z")
OK, so that’s normal… but how about this? My cat tells me what to wear. And he gets REALLY mad if I don’t listen to him. Sometimes, he starts to burn a hole in my brain, right thru the tinfoil hat. Is this normal? 'cause it’s been going on for like, a few years now. I mean, usually he has great fashion sense and stuff, but it does seem, kinda, ya know, _weird_. ---
**Author:** ![Mesquite-oh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@Mesquite-oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mesquite-oh)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-normal-childs-behavior/340314/20 "2006-01-17T08:12:27Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Is it normal for children to dress their favorite stuffed animal? I’m thinking this is harmless. The child loves the animal and treats it as if it was human. Perhaps it is a form of parenting? The child seems himself as the parent and thus dresses the stuffed animal as if it was his “child.” Anyway, am I right in thinking this is harmless and may actually be a good thing as the child is learning responsibilty? Oh, OK. When I first read this I thought you asked "Is it normal for children to dress AS their favorite stuffed animal? I still think that dressing as their favorite stuffed animal is pretty normal for a child, unless your child is 22, subscribes to “Furry Fandom” and refuses to get out of his Otter costume for weeks at a time. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-normal-childs-behavior/340314.md?page=2)