Why would a child put things in ears?

Exploration, itch: Some kids do stuff the first time to explore how it feels, or get attention. Some because they feel an itch & think putting something there will change it. Most don't talk yet so they seldom tell us why, but it will happen in most. I encourage parents not to use q-tips on young kids or they might decide to put something in their ear like mommy does.

If a child has...: ...An orifice, they will put something into it. I have taken beads, toy shoes, toy tires, cloth flowers, peas, blueberries, jelly beans, wads of tissue, and lots of other things out of ears, noses, and genitals. They do it because they can, because they don't know they shouldn't, and to see what happens.