Booger eating

[Anonymous]

Ugh. My 4 year old has started eating her boogers. It's disgusting and when I see her do it, I say (calmly and without getting excited), "that's gross, do you need a tissue?" It's not working. A few questions:

1. Can you really avoid nose picking at this age? It's not like you can really get those crusty stuck boogers out by blowing or wiping anyways. How do you handle self-service booger removal for your 3-5 year olds?
2. Is it less gross or equally gross to instruct her to wipe it on the underside of her shirt or in her armpit (which is what my mother used to do)? Damn girl's clothes never have pockets, so I can't have her carry a tissue around.
3. Do I keep correcting her, try to shame or embarrass her, or just ignore the booger eating? I do NOT want this habit to get well established, but also don't want to give it unnecessary attention that will make her do it more.

Help, I'm grossed out and don't know what to do.

[Anonymous]

Is it less gross or equally gross to instruct her to wipe it on the underside of her shirt or in her armpit

Ewww. Equally gross.

[Anonymous]

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/eating-boogers-may-boost-immunity-scientist-suspects/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.cbsnews.com/news/eating-boogers-may-boost-immunity-scientist-suspects/

Sigh, so maybe it should be a "that's only something you can do in private" thing?

[Anonymous]

As a teacher, I told kids to go to the bathroom. I mean, all of us have boogers that need removing at times (I assume). It's just a matter of where we take care of them. Plus in the bathroom there are better choices for disposal than either one's shirt or their mouth.

Having said that, I'd also buy your daughter clothing with pockets.

[Anonymous]

"Time to go wash your hands."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher, I told kids to go to the bathroom. I mean, all of us have boogers that need removing at times (I assume). It's just a matter of where we take care of them. Plus in the bathroom there are better choices for disposal than either one's shirt or their mouth.

Having said that, I'd also buy your daughter clothing with pockets.

OP here. That's a great idea about the bathroom, thank you. But do you have girls? The lack of pockets is epidemic, especially if you have a girl that prefers leggings and dresses. If I could get her in regular pants, I'd happily do so, but for now her sense of personal style is not pocket friendly.

[Anonymous]

Just commiseration. My 4 going on 5 year old DD does it too.

[Anonymous]

I made a disgusted face, and said, "Ew, that's disgusting! Go wash your hands!" and would sometimes lightly slap her hand away. It only took a week for her to stop. Then we looked at other kids in disgust when they did it, together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I made a disgusted face, and said, "Ew, that's disgusting! Go wash your hands!" and would sometimes lightly slap her hand away. It only took a week for her to stop. Then we looked at other kids in disgust when they did it, together.

Umm, you "lightly" smacked your kid's hand and taught her to openly mock other kids? I think I'd prefer the booger eating over that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I made a disgusted face, and said, "Ew, that's disgusting! Go wash your hands!" and would sometimes lightly slap her hand away. It only took a week for her to stop. Then we looked at other kids in disgust when they did it, together.

Umm, you "lightly" smacked your kid's hand and taught her to openly mock other kids? I think I'd prefer the booger eating over that.

+1

[Anonymous]

I don't understand - all classrooms have tissues or paper towels. What does your child do when she has a runny nose? Why can't she do the same thing if she has to dig a booger out of her nose?