How to break a bad habit

[jill]

A couple times of year when the allergies are high or the child has a cold she picks at her nose so much she does not even think about it or care. How do I get her to care and think about it? All the psychologist suggested is talk to her and make her wash her hands each time, been there done that nothing. I try talking to her as we are snuggling and it rolls off her "it is a habit". I try to let her know if other kids keep seeing her doing the "habit" they will not want to talk to you or play and will be mean to you etc. I do not think I am getting anywhere Help! I worry for her so much and want good experiences for her not bad.

I keep calling the school social worker for it is in her IEP she is supposed to meet with her 2x per month to work on social skills and she has not been calling me back. I ask my daughter and she has no idea who she is when I give her the name. If I hear nothing by Friday I plan to send a letter to her and from there go to the Principal then CSE for my child needs help.

[misty]

Is she actually picking boogers out or is she picking at it because its dry & crusty? My daughter & I both get that dry crustiness from the dry heat indoors during cold weather. Shannon used to pick at it constantly! So I started having her put a thin layer of vaseline on her pinkie & smear it around in there. If you have her coat it in vaseline daily it should get softer & feel better, maybe then she won't feel the need to pick so much. It worked for Shannon.

[charliegirl]

My son used to pick his nose and eat it until he was 8 or 9. It was so gross and I did everything you mentioned. He finally stopped doing it. I have no idea what finally got him to stop.

[katiekat]

My son picks his nose and he doesn't have ADHD or anything else. So does his father. Maybe it's genetic.

[lostmyshoe]

My daughter has always had to learn by hearing comments from her peers. She didn't really pick her nose in public but has chosen to wear things that stood out or other things like not brushing her teeth and as soon as her peers say anything negative, the habit or choice she is making changes for the positive. You can say so much to them but sometimes they have to learn for themselves. I never give up mentioning things to her though or reminding her of things.

[jill]

She does not eat it she did when she was a toddler but I think it is both the crusty stuff and the just geting the buggies out. Making her wash hands and giving her tissues is what we are doing but she does not seem to care. I worry about the teasing she will get if she keeps it up and I try telling her so. I talked to the school social worker who is working with her and she will address it with her in session.

[unicorn]

Ugh, TIff picks her nose all the time!!!!! I tell her that she is going to pick a hold into her brain soon enough if she keeps it up.

[charliegirl]

It must be something nearly every kid does but we seem to notice our kids doing it more than anyone else's.

[unicorn]

When I helped at the school book fiar last week, I saw many pickers of various ages.

[jill]

The school social worker is supposed to work with her on teaching her a replacement habit or about it. On her IEP she is supposed to work on Social skills with my daughter and learning to pick up social cues. I say everyone picks one time or another it is just how and when.