My ds is holding a big wad of socks right now. He has grown out of the obsession mostly. He used have to wear socks all the time, even to bed. Once he fell asleep without socks and woke in middle of the night crying for some. He would put socks on over his socks. You have to pick your battles, for me socks were okay to let him go nuts with. Then I started lotioning his feet, mine get dry and I don't like them to be touched. So I did that for a while and now he can go barefoot and he likes having his feet rubbed. Still likes playing with socks but doesn't NEED them on anymore. Most likely sensory issue, but I say let him have socks.
My son is taking off socks and putting on new ones all day long, after he finally learned to put them on himself. For him taking them off is probably sensory, but when he wants to go outside he gets a new pair rather than tracking down the old pair.
He struggled with learning to put his own socks on -- both a physical and motivational struggle. What it took was finding socks that were easy for him to put on (had to try many brands) and teaching him the slogan "thumbs in thumbs up" -- put your thumbs in the socks, pull them on your feet, and when you're done, give yourself the thumbs up for a job well done.
My son also gets distressed if anyone in our family is barefoot in a public place, because I taught him to avoid athlete's foot and he just takes the rule to an extreme.
It does sound likely that your son's behavior has a sensory element to it. If you don't have a good overview over his sensory issues, you can try this checklist:
http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-processin g-disorder-checklist.html
Good luck with everything.
Laurie,
I can feel your frustration! I am thinking teach him to put on his own socks, reward for every little attempt he makes. Then keep a basket of clean socks around so he can get them whenever he wants?
Do any of your kids want to wear socks all the time? My son is driving me crazy again with his sock obsession. He takes off his socks about every 1/2 hour and wants new ones on. He won't put on his own socks -just tantrums until he gets new ones on. I am trying not to give in today but every 2 seconds he yells new socks! He even freaks out if other people are not wearing socks. (He is also obsessive about shirts.) He hates when people don't wear shirts. He even got upset the other night when a guy on tv wasn't wearing a shirt. I think this is a sensory thing. Should I just keep him in socks or make him go barefoot? I don't want to be mean if he really feels better with socks on.
Laurie
Opposite problem here my son hates socks it takes a long time to getthem on him then he takes then right off.. It drives me crazy..