Playing with feces, also known as scat play or coprophilia, is an uncommon behavior that may be seen in children, especially those aged between 2 and 12 years old. There are several reasons a 12 year old may engage in poop play:
Exploration and curiosity
Playing with feces allows the child to explore new textures and smells. Around this age, children become more aware of their bowels and bladder control and take interest in their output. Playing with poop is a way to satisfy their curiosity.
Self-soothing
The act of poop play can provide sensory stimulation for the child. The texture and smells of the feces can be soothing and self-calming for some children, especially those with sensory processing differences or other special needs. This play allows them to regulate their emotions and arousal level.
Attention seeking
Some children may play with their feces as a way to gain attention from adults. Reactions of shock or disgust from parents and teachers provide the child with the attention they desire.
Defiance
Older children on the cusp of adolescence may use feces to express defiance of rules about hygiene set by adults. Smearing or playing with poop allows them to break the “no touching poop” rule and exert their independence.
Stress or trauma
Changes and difficulties at home or school can cause stress for a 12 year old. Playing with poop could be a regressive behavior due to anxiety, serving as a maladaptive coping mechanism. Trauma from physical or sexual abuse could also prompt this behavior.
Physical causes
In some cases, an underlying physical condition or disease may cause coprophilia:
Cognitive impairment
Intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy and other conditions affecting cognition may limit a child’s understanding of the inappropriateness of fecal play. Difficulty following social norms around elimination contributes to these behaviors continuing past the toddler stage.
Developmental disorders
Developmental delays that influence emotional maturity can result in poop play persisting into the preteen years. These children may lack the self-regulation abilities expected at their age.
Mental illness
Some rare mental illnesses such as schizophrenia may begin manifesting in late childhood. Delusions, hallucinations or disorganized thinking could prompt fecal smearing.
Digestive conditions
Chronic constipation or diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease and other GI issues can cause abdominal discomfort. Children may play with their feces compulsively for relief of physical symptoms.
Mistaken and exploratory play
Not all incidents of fecal play are a sign of deeper issues:
Normal toilet training behaviors
During potty-training, toddlers and preschoolers learn to recognize and control elimination urges. Direct handling of poop may happen as they explore their bodily functions. By around age 4, most know playing with poop is unacceptable.
Discovery of number two
Older kids ages 5 to 10 may experience “poop accomplishment” when they pass large or solid stools, and wish to examine their creation. This interest tends to fade as the child matures.
Re-enactment of infant activities
Younger children often enjoy role-playing as an infant being changed, and may include messy diaper play with feces in their game. Re-enactment play is common around this age and not necessarily concerning.
When is poop play problematic?
While curiosity about feces is developmentally normal to a point, certain patterns of poop play should prompt concern and intervention:
Repetitive or compulsive play
Frequently seeking out feces to play with, distress when unable to play with poop, and not responding to redirection are worrisome signs. This indicates a strong fixation on poop play.
Smearing feces
Spreading poop on surfaces, self or others regularly goes beyond curious examination. Smearing poop usually stems from sensory issues, trauma or mental illness.
Eating feces
Intentionally ingesting poop through mouth or nose is known clinically as coprophagia. This poses health risks and often relates to developmental disorders or mental illness.
Play continues past age 6
While poop play from ages 2 to 4 is fairly common, persistence beyond age 6 is widely viewed as abnormal. Continued play indicates an underlying cause.
Association with emotional problems
When poop play arises alongside mood or behavior issues, anxiety, regressed bedtime habits, sexualized play or abuse, a child likely needs help processing stressors.
Dangers of prolonged poop play
While curiosity about bodily functions is normal in small children, ongoing poop play poses physical and psychological risks:
Disease transmission
Feces carry pathogens that can cause gastrointestinal infections from bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli as well as parasites when ingested. Repeated exposure can lead to illness.
Social stigma
Smearing feces leads to rejection by peers, hampering a child’s social development. Other children avoid or bully the “poop kid” out of sanitary concerns. This social isolation can have lasting self-esteem effects.
Infection and illness
Eating feces can transmit serious infectious diseases. Parasites, bacteria and viruses invade the body when feces enter the mouth and nose. This can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration and other problems.
Bowel obstruction
compacted feces
Swallowing feces may cause a large compacted mass of stool to form in the digestive tract. This fecal impaction can partially or fully block the intestines, requiring hospitalization to clear.
Caregiver stress
Frustration, blame and helplessness often affect parents of children playing with poop chronically. This conflict can damage the parent-child relationship. Ongoing poop messes add stress, work and costs for families.
| Age | Common developmental cause | Problematic sign? |
|---|---|---|
| 0-2 years | Exploring new textures and smells during toilet training | No |
| 3-4 years | Interest in poop’s appearance after accomplishing pooping on potty | No |
| 5-7 years | Pretend play reenacting infant care activities like diapering | No unless recurrent |
| 8+ years | Defiance of rules about touching poop to assert independence | Yes |
How to intervene with poop play
If a child over age 4 engages in repetitive, unsanitary or secretive poop play, intervention is needed:
Assess for underlying causes
The child should receive a physical and mental health evaluation to identify any developmental, neurological or psychosocial factors. Open communication helps determine when and why play occurs.
Increase supervision and restrict access
Keep bathroom doors closed and use locks to prevent access to feces. Provide close supervision when the child is likely to touch poop during pottying or diaper changes.
Respond calmly yet firmly
Stay composed and neutral when stopping poop play. Clearly explain that feces spreads germs and make kids sick, so playing with it cannot be allowed. Follow up with redirection to a positive activity.
Establish clear rules and consequences
Set family rules addressing when and how poop play occurs, as well as related activities like smearing and bathroom access. Outline reasonable consequences for breaking rules like time outs or loss of privileges.
Try behavioral modification techniques
For compulsive poop play, behavioral therapy can help decrease the behavior through ignoring it, rewarding clean days, or providing alternative sensory stimuli like clay. Consistency is key.
Consider occupational therapy
Occupational therapy helps children with sensory seeking behaviors manage their needs appropriately. The therapist evaluates the child’s sensitivities and designs activities and products incorporating touch, smell and motion as healthy alternatives to poop play.
Treat any psychological problems
If stress, trauma, neuropsychiatric disorders or family dysfunction underlie the child’s poop preoccupation, addressing via counseling and/or medication can help resolve this maladaptive coping.
Preventing recurrence of poop play
Once underlying factors are treated, poop play often fades. But parents must remain vigilant against recurrence using these strategies:
Reinforce hygiene and boundaries
Continue teaching the child safe bathroom habits to support normal elimination. Maintain rules about off-limits activities and supervise as needed when toileting. Praise the child for respecting boundaries.
Get ahead of constipation
Ensure a high-fiber diet with plenty of fluids to prevent painful stools that are tempting to handle. Teach kids to respond immediately to the urge to use the bathroom.
Watch for emotional triggers
Notice situations causing the child distress, like family conflict or peer teasing. Intervene early on when the child is upset to prevent regression to poop play for comfort.
Use behavior rewards
Continue incentive systems focusing on desired toilet habits. Link rewards like stickers or play time to benchmarks for using the toilet appropriately and keeping feces in the toilet.
Develop replacement activities
Introduce new sensory experiences engaging touch and smell through safe mediums like playdough, scented soaps, textured toys etc. Have the child participate in structured play when they typically feel inclined to play with poop.
When to seek professional help
Consult a doctor, psychologist or behavior therapist if:
– Poop play continues after age 6
– Occurs along with emotional or behavioral disturbances
– The child ingests feces or smears it habitually
– Interventions are unsuccessful after 2 months
– Poop play returns after resolving previously
Ongoing fecal play past early childhood is a red flag for mental or physical illness requiring professional assessment and treatment. Left unaddressed, poop play can seriously impact health and social development.
Conclusion
While curiosity about poop is normal in potty training toddlers, ongoing fecal play into the preteen years often indicates an underlying problem. Contributing factors range from neurodevelopmental disorders to psychological issues like stress. Letting the behavior continue poses risks including infection, social issues and family disruption. Caregivers must identify the root causes through comprehensive evaluation and tailor interventions accordingly. Multidisciplinary treatment addressing physical, cognitive and emotional contributors alongside behavior modification is key to successfully eliminating unhealthy poop play. Consistent prevention and monitoring for recurrence helps ensure the child establishes age-appropriate toilet habits and boundaries.