Phobia

Gwen has a strange fear of toy alligators. We seem to have several around our house... maybe as many as four. The first one she saw was one that we keep with the bath toys. I put the basket of bath toys in the tub with her one of the first nights she was home with us. She pointed and scooted away from that alligator. She wanted it out. When she saw it in the bathroom at any other time, she would point and back away, a concerned look on her face and making her all purpose noise- "Uh, uh."

Since then I've noticed that she has this same reaction with the other various alligators around our house. She will be happily playing in the basement, when suddenly she spots one. Points, backs away, concerned look, "Uh, uh." I put it out of sight and she's fine.

Yesterday we were all in basement. We were working on picking up the toys, that never ending task. I was putting away Playmobil. Now, we have a good variety of Playmobil animals. Gwen was playing with something nearby, so I decided to test her plastic animal fear. How about the tiger? One of the scarier animals, as scary animals go. I showed it to her- nothing. No problem. Okay, how about the bison? We have a Playmobil bison. A large animal. No reaction from Gwen but mild interest. What about the bear? Another scary one. I even made it growl at her. She smiled. Then came the Playmobil alligator. I don't think she had ever seen the Playmobil alligator. The ones she had pointed at and backed away with her concerned look have not been this one. Maybe this one is fine. I bring it into view. "Gwen, look." Uh oh. Concerned look, backing away.

Gwen does not like toy alligators.