My 11yr old daughter has down syndrome and she chews the collar of her shirts why? and how do we help her ?

Mildly odd: There may be more severe odd behaviors, but this is fairly mild and w/ gentle help she may grow out of it. Also, avoiding collars for a long time may break the habit. This genetic condition ranges in respect to moods , behaviors and iq widely. She may be dealing w/ some anxiety - most pre-adolescents do. It can be a tic or even unconscious like playing w/ hair. A good child psychologist can help.

If it's new behavior: First have her dentist look for cavities or other causes of mouth/tmj pain. If the dentist finds nothing, have her pediatrician look for middle ear fluid ; other head/neck causes of pain. You ; her teacher can watch for any environmental change that consistently precipitates the behavior. It may just be sensory-seeking behavior. An o.T. Or slt can show you how to make a safe " chewie" necklace.

Seek help from a : Locàl or national organization thatsupports families with Down syndrome children. Ur child's behavior is typical ocd, one behavior common among these kids. I had a sister in the philippines whose ocd was throwing utensils when we are around a dining table. She has overcome it with some discipline on our part. God bless u! http://www.Ndss.Org/ http://ghr.Nlm.Nih.Gov/condition/down-syndrome.