Im a first time mom, and after I yanked my son out of a Montessori school which is another story. he picked up more than friends. Nose picking. I have tried smacking his hand, telling him its yucky which he will do it more. I have even tried not to notice because I think he likes it when I tell him dont pick. One time it bled and I thoought ok he got an ouwy he will stop. Not a chance hes still diggin for gold. I clean his nose and make him blow it so maybe if the nose is empty, he's pickin air..What do you do? I look around at little kids and I see them all do it at all ages? Is it normal?
Thank you to all that responded. I was thinking "is it just my kid?" Is it normal? How much picken can they do? I dont see it as much as I use to. But he hasnt had a runny nose in a long time. But we shall see when the nose starts running it picking season free for all, getem while there hot folks. I try to get them before he consumes his nose treasures. Sometimes he will bring one to me and say eat it. Yuck....
Hi J.,
I can totally sympathize with you, as my son had the same problem. It's so gross! Because they don't understand "gross" as much as we do, it might be best to just very calmly give him a tissue and ask him to please use it. Over time, he will stop.
Good luck! :)
G.
Ya i would just not pay attention to it im a half mom like woth my sis i just diidnt look and she stopped picking so you should just keep trying.
While I hate to say get used to it....
It seems to be something that most kids do. I tried all the same with my daughter(s) and it did little to no use. They eventually stopped. We still spoke to them about it, especially when it was done in view of others. I think eventually Peer Presure does what we mortal parents can not.
I wish I had some great advice to help you get him to stop. If you find anything that works please let me know as I have lots of young children in my family. :}
J.,
My son also picks- all day long. No matter what we do, we cannot get him to stop. I like the advice from the one who said to have them wash their hands though each time- that's a great idea (even if you are out)- perhaps that would help to curb it. Also- the advice about having them do it in private- great ideas! I will try them myself.
Good luck. And yes this is normal. Disgusting, but normal.
ps- Thanks for the laughs ladies. I haven't laughed this hard in days.
My 3yo son is a nose picker! The only thing that has worked at all was telling him that he could pick it all he wanted in his room or the bathroom if he has a tissue. That way it's not off-limits but he knows he has to do it in private. I read that in advice about how to deal with playing with themselves and it seems to work for the nose. The more you tell him it's yucky the more entertaining he'll find it. HTH!
Hi J.-
I a preschool teacher and I see a lot of "gold diggers" in my classroom ;p The only thing that I find works is to have them wash their hands as soon as I see them digging. Every single time! Don't give in and be persistent, even when you are away from home (carry a bottle of hand sanitizer), they will moan and groan about having to wash their hands so remind him every time that the reason he has to wash his hands is because of the nasty germs that are in boogers (try not to tell him that he is nasty or that his nose is nasty, really but the emphasis on the boogers). And do try the Vaseline, it helped me through this dry weather.
Rainey drives me nuts with this also.... But then I've heard that they either pick their noses or their butts. If that's true, I'm happy its her nose :)
Kurt
Well-I just couldnt resist but to add one more to the Dogging For Gold topic. And just because you stop him now, doesnt mean he wont start it up again later. My son is 5 and in Kinder. As much as I hate to admit it, his finder finds its way from node to his mouth also. He didnt care what I said to him about it, he would tell me to stop telling him. And dont think that when winter is over he will stop-the spring air will bring dust and pollen and a dry nose so it may not end. A child at school called my boy nasty because he picks his nose. So then I had a talk with him. My son is having severe problems with school as it is (advice that I am looking for) and this wasnt helping.I dont want him to be the dirty nasty kid that no one wants to be around! I thought it had to be enough to hurt his feelings-but not totatly. So the teacher makes him get up and wash his hands every time she see's that finger neer a nostril. That way he is incovienced. (I do the same at home) In the car or whenever I put hand sanitizer on, that way the alcohol smells bad and tastes bad! On the Today show-a therapist said to do the same thing and to try vasaline.My son wont let me and he sis mart enough to wipe it off. Mustard might make an impact though! Also-I put kleenex on him. One in his front pocket of his shirt, and one in his pants sticking out.In hope that he will remember to use the tissue he sees or at worst wipe his finger on it.I also bought those purse size packets of kleenex they have. One in the car, by his bed, for the back pack, and one for his jacket! Im gonna win the battle fo the boogers! Lastly-I used science. My son is very smart-so this was a good thing too. I explained what the hairs in our nose do and catching boogers is good, but puting the germs directly into your moth is asking to get sick!
OK-thast all for me! I wish you luck in every way- and I hope you have ended your battle. Wait until he figures out that farting gets attention and finds it funny! Thats fun too!
Yeah... Children all do it. Expect him to put his gum in there too. Don't freak out, though. A good nose blowing will free it. He will also start biting his toenails too. Kids are gross. I have 2 boys, 3 and 5. Monkey see monkey do. Potty training(YEAH) nose picking and toenail chewing(BOO) Unfortunately it is just something that is difficult to stop.. Children have such little they are in control of and this is one thing that he can really get a reaction out of you. That reaction makes him feel powerful. (little ol him making big ol you disgusted) I'm sure he gets a charge out of your reaction. Go out and get 123Magic. A great book that will help navigate the discipline waters. An easy and humorous read it is simple to implement. Good Luck- My boys are still lil diggers. Although my Kindergartener is much less a picker in public. Social awareness starts kicking in. Another book Parker Picks is also great to share with boogie fingers. EEEWWW.(I know)
Don't fret J.. Here's a great article to read. It explains it so wonderfully. I couldnt' have said it better.
http://parentcenter.babycenter.com/0_nose-picking-why-it-...
Maybe he has allergies and his nose is bothering him. Try carefully putting some vasaline up there with a Q-tip. It can also be a nervouse habit in which case calm nonchalant gentle reminders may help, but if you punish him or constantly get after him and get angry it will only make it worse. Mostly...he's just got a bad habit that he will have to out grow. ONE of my four kids is a nose picker. From age 2 - 3 her fingers were constantly up her nose. Sometimes BOTH nostrils had a finger jammed up there. Drove me nuts!! I noticed her allergies and would put vasaline up there which helped a little. But she still picked and picked. She is four now and only picks once in awhile. She finally out grew it mostly! Have faith he will too. THIS TOO SHALL PASS just in time for another fun fase.
Hi J.:
I have two teenage kids, one a boy, one a girl...
When my son was your son's age, he was always around the girls (all the girls at the day care used to follow him around ALL the time)...I used to tell him that girls don't like it when boys pick their nose...he stopped doing it...
J.,
Saw your subject line and h-a-d to read on: who can resist a nose-picker story??? Oh, you poor gal, I SO feel for you. I work in a pre-K class with a, "chronic" nose-picker. He walks around the classroom with his finger buried so far up his nose, you'd think there was candy up there! We say to him,"'John,' (not his real name) get your finger out of your nose." or, "Go blow your nose." or, "'John' that's nasty." and he looks at you with this blank, almost hypnotic stare, and keeps on diggin!
He won't stop until other kids start teasing him (and preschoolers don't notice). He's too in love with his own boogies.
My boy takes an occasional visit to The Caves of Gold, but he's so young, a, "hey, that's dirty." is enough to stop him. I dread the day coming...
Good luck, you gave me a great laugh today:))
I saw this topic covered on the Today Show a little bit ago. But I just checked on todayshow.com go to the parenting & family section and there is an article on nose picking!! Good luck :) I'm curious to know if this works?!?
yes, this is normal. The best thing to do is simply monitor him picking. Don't give the picking constant attention because that attention will make him pick more to get more attention. I have four children and they all went through picking. They simply discovered a part of their body. Be sure to keep his nails clipped short so he won't cut himself. Don't worry this gross habit will stop on it's own. The next habit to expect is him sticking things up his nose, and this is normal too.
LOL I am sorry to laugh, but my son does the same thing. Except he has made his nose bleed several times. And then he eats it and announces that he's eaten it to the world (loudly) OMG It makes me want to be sick! I have been told that maybe it's just dried out in his nose and to put vaseline on a q-tip and swap the inside of his nose. My son will not let me get near his nose with a q-tip but you may give it a try. I have been just trying to ignore it because the more I notice the more he seems to do it to get my goat! Good luck with your little gold digger! lol
Hi there~ I am a mom of 2 kids - one was a nose picker, the other was not. So, is it normal? I guess with some kids it is. Is it acceptable, no way. I've seen kids as old as 11 years old still picking - GROSS! (We've all seen adults picking in the front seat of their car!)It's a habit, and like any habit, it can be broken with a little diligence from Mom & Dad. It took until my son was 5 for the habit to break. I kept his nose clean, kept tissues by his bead side, & every time I saw him picking - I sent him straight to the bathroom to wash his hands. (Yes, even if it's 10 times/day and even when I was out.)I explained to him that picking his nose spread yucky germs that could make other people sick. I'd probably think twice about the hand slapping - and instead, gently, yet firmly, being sure not to make a "big deal" out of it - tell him to hit the lavatory! Good luck!
Hey, it could be worse! My almost 2 year old likes to pick her nose too. We just let her do it. It's better than her not caring and having them just running out of her nose. I think it is probably just a phase and will wear off soon. Especially since there are a lot more buggers in the winter. Perhaps in the summer when its dryer it will be a non issue.
