Nose Picking.... - Salisbury,MD

We don't make a big huge deal out of it but offer him a tissue every time we see him doing it. Gently offer him a tissue, make a yucky face and just tell him every single time "just ask for a tissue anytime or go get one from that drawer....that's yucky, we don't do that".

As odd as it may seem, nose picking is a comforting behavior, just like thumb sucking. Your daughter is in a new situation, and is stressed out by all of the changes in her life that she has no control over, so she picks her nose. This gets attention from adults. My advice to you is that when you notice it, quietly hand her a tissue and make her put the snot from her nose in that so that she can't ingest it. The bigger a deal you make of this behavior, the more she will do it in order to get your attention. As gross as this seems, I doubt that ingesting her snot will actually hurt her. Eventually, her peers will exert enough social pressure that she will cease to do this publicly.
In preparation for starting school/daycare did you make her give up anything - a blanket or pacifier perhaps? If so, the nose picking is what she has chosen to substitute for that. After all, her nose is with her all the time and is something that no one can take from her.
Just my thoughts on this not that unusual (but gross) behavior.

The more you draw attention to it the more she is going to do it. She is testing bounderies and trying to take control of her body and world. Her classmates will take care of the situation. She will quickly learn that this is not socially acceptable behavior. Sadly, she seems unwilling to take your word for it and needs to learn by personal experiance. So, as annoying as it is, let it go and don't comment on it and when she realizes that it isn't getting her the desired attention, she will stop. Kids are cruel and they will tease her and make her uncomfortable enough.

E., Hahaha you cracked me up. This is very normal. It is not that big of a deal. Just teach your daughter to wash her hands after she potties, before she eats or if they are dirty. The germs in her own nose are not going to make her terribly ill. As far as her touching surfaces at preschool and then sticking her hands in her mouth, it is unavoidable and will boost her immunity later in life. I know that it seems that she always has a cold, but if you keep her in too sterile of an environment while she is young she will be more prone to illnesses of a more serious nature later in life. Unless she is immuno compromised I wouldn't worry.
I understand the gross factor as well, but this is a politeness issue that a little kid doesn't understand, let's face it our own finger s fit into our noses perfectly, they were designed to clean the nose if it was crusty. Granted this is not what you want to hear but as a toddler she has learned that she can do this on her own, not just encourage her to use a tissue and wash her hands. The more you draw attention to it the funnier it will bexome nad she will go out of her way to gross you out....Believe me after 5 years of teaching preschool, raising three of my own children, and my three younger siblings as a teen I know.

i also have a beautiful 2.5 yo nose picker. i have started telling her she has to put the booger in a tissue. next we are moving to the you can only do it in the bathroom. she seems to be able to follow rules that better. just telling her 'no, don't do that' doesn't seem to be working for us and i'm thinking that the more inconvenient i make it, the less she'll do it. good luck!

Yes it's icky and embarassing, but I would ask someone at school if they are witnessing her doing this beacuse I'm sure she is. See how they handle it and she probably picked it up from someone from school. Children are always trying us so that sounds very familiar when you stated that she's right in front of you as if you don't see her.Just continue to work w/ her and try another phrase other than"No don't do that'. GOOD LUCK

For starters under the "food and eating" was pretty funny.
It is so normal for children to do that. All of them do it, boys and girls. I know we do not like it but all you can do is just keep telling her it's icky and so forth. She will grow out of it. My son did the same thing. He is 5 now. I don't believe he does it anymore. At least I haven't seen it. I have seen my two yr. old daughter pick her nose but have yet to see her put it in her mouth unless her brother makes a big deal out of it and then he gets in trouble for telling to do it.
Don't stress over it, like I said it's normal. Ask your mom if you did that as a child and see what she tells you.
Good Luck and don't stress it. Everything will get better with that habit.

We're in the middle of the same battle with my 2 year old son. I read in one of my books that it's a VERY normal phase, but that you also shouldn't make your child feel ashamed. I agree with Colleen, about going the route of making it inconvenient, but not necessarily telling them "No" or "Stop it" (Which always seem to make my son do something MORE!). We started telling my son that if he needs to pick his nose, he must do it in his bedroom in privacy and give him a tissue. He never wants to leave what he's doing to go to his room, so he automatically stops picking, without me actually telling him to stop. I've noticed a dramatic decrease in the behavior.

LOL at your initial topic placement.

Oh my gosh,E., be so thankful it's a girl. We girls ususally grow out of yuk stuff. My boys, even the 12 yr old still goes for the nose! ARRGGGHHH! I've got an idea though. There is a tube of saline gel called Ayr at the drug store. It helps with driness. Rub all around her noseholes and when she breathes in it moisturizes the passages. It's worth a try. Then you will have to keep working on stopping the habit she has herself into. Put something on her picking fingers. Maybe bandaids would work?

Good luck with her and your PA degree!

Take Care,
N. :) SAHM homeschooling 3 boys 12, 8 & 2yrs old and married to my Mr. Wonderful for almost 15yrs. I love to help other moms, who want to become SAHMs, reach that goal. If you or someone you know want to become a SAHM please email me at ____@____.com. Thanks!

I'll be waiting to see if you get a good answer, because my daughter does the same thing! My daughter seems to do it as she is zoning out watching TV-I'm not even sure she realizes she's doing it? We've tried everything from ignoring, using bribes to scolding etc, and nothing has worked. I know she'll grow out of it, but hopefully it's SOON!

As for pre-school, my daughers teacher mentioned it to me about another kid (we both saw her doing it) and said they discourage it with all the kids, and just ask them to use a tissue, so that made me feel better.

Good luck,
T.

Just keep reminding her when she goes for her nose. Give her lots of praise when she can go longer periods of time without picking. Say, wow, you're growing up to be such a young lady! If she forgets, say, uh, oh... Give it time. It is a disgusting habit, but, things could be worse.

I have a 2-1/2 year old boy. He has picked his nose but not the other. The first thing I do is take him into the restroom and help him with blowing his nose. Whenever he appears to have a problem with his nose, that is the first thing I do. There is no talk about it we just go. I think consistency is a key here. We don't keep tissue anywhere in the house. My children (3 girls and my son) have always went to the bathroom for this, I think because they realize it is a restroom issue. There is a time and place for everything. I don't believe walking around the house blowing your nose is appropriate. As a matter of fact, it makes me gag when other people blow their nose and that is probably why I have been so adamant with my own children.

Good luck and let me know how that works.

I would not draw any more attention to it. Kids seem to do the opposite of what we want. I would tell my son, "Oooh icky, I don't want to give you kisses after you eat icky boogars." He would sneak and do it then give me a kiss and laugh and laugh 'cause he tricked me.

Usually it is just a phase. Our other 6 children grew out of it and I bet your little gal will too.