Facts

• Most children who have OCD will show symptoms that lead to diagnosis in their "tween" years, generally between the ages of 7 and 12 years old.
  
  

Routines

• You may notice your child having an unusually hard time dealing with either morning or bedtime routines. Kids with OCD are often very anxious and may not get sufficient amounts of quality sleep, making them overly tired at either end of the day.
  
  

Physical Illness

• It's not unusual for children who are affected by OCD to feel sick. The emotional stress and anxiety they feel may be taking a physical toll in the form of stomach aches and headaches.
  
  

Grooming

• Washing hands and other rituals having to do with grooming are common compulsions among people who have OCD. If your child participates in these rituals, he may have very dry, cracked or peeling skin on his hands and face from many washings.
  
  

Anger

• Anger is often a symptom of OCD in children. This may be in response to feeling out of control when they are unable to continue their rituals due to scheduling issues or parental demands.
  
  

School

• Some children who have OCD have trouble in school. They may not finish homework or tests because they obsess on one question, for example.
  
  

Touch

• Touching rituals are very common in the younger generation of people affected by OCD. If you notice your child touching something at regular intervals or multiple times each day, speak to her doctor about your concerns.