Daughter's Peer at Karate Has Disgusting Habit!

Updated on February 18, 2012
N.G. asks from Arlington, TX
17 answers

My daughter's little peer at karate is 6 years old, and I have seen her picking her nose and eating her boogers on way too many occasions. It's disgusting, and I know the instructors see it, and I know her Mom sees it, but no one will make her stop. The kids will spar with each other, so she is spreading her nasty booger germs all over the other kids (which I know happens anyway, but to see it makes my stomach turn). I have literally gagged a few times because she's so obnoxious about it, its not even discreet. My question is, should I say something? To the Mom? To the instructor? Or to the kid? It's gross, and I can't for the life of me understand why no one will say anything?! If my kid was eating her boogers in public I woul be mortified! Anyway, thanks for your help!

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P.R.

answers from Cleveland on

I'd say something to the instructor. Either the mother doesn't care or the child doesn't listen to her. Likely the child will listen to the teacher better. My kids think their teachers walk on water. This is a health issue so you're justified.

5 moms found this helpful
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☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Blecch.
I feel ya.
O. of my son's buddies always seems to have a finger in his nose. (He doesn't eat boogers though!)
If he's at my house, in my care, I'll often ask him if he needs a Kleenex, does he know where the Kleenex are, etc. It stops.
In this situation, I might say something to the instructor. Or ask her (in front of the mom) if she needs a tissue.
Ugh. Gross.

2 moms found this helpful

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L.C.

answers from Raleigh on

Well my 5 year old does it, and i do get on him everytime he does.....but there is only so much I can do..........if you only knew how many kids do not wash their hands after using a restroom(#1 or #2).....now that's gross......

2 moms found this helpful

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Oh wow, I would have no problem saying to the little darling, "Oh my do you need a tissue? Eating what comes out of your nose can make you sick!" Then hand that kid a tissue, with a smile of course.
This isn't a discipline issue, it's a matter of good manners (and health.)
I've offered kids tissues, wet wipes and napkins in front of their parents for all kinds of nastiness (snot, dirty faces, sticky fingers.) Sadly the parents usually just laugh it off, and say something along the lines of, oh well, what are ya gonna do?
Oh I don't know, how about teaching your child that most people find that kind of thing gross :(

2 moms found this helpful

F.H.

answers from Phoenix on

LOL! I just had a visual of this and it made me gag a little too! I would say something to the instructor or whoever runs the school. Say something like, I'm sure you've noticed this happening and I'm concerned about the germs being passed around since it happes alot. If it isn't address by them, then maybe say something to the mom. I can't believe either that no one is saying anything to her! Good luck!

2 moms found this helpful
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A.D.

answers from Minneapolis on

Maybe to the instructor, I'd ask that he gently tell the Mom it has been noticed, and there is concern that her DD's habit is unsanitary and exposing the other students to germs. Reality is that kids do this, but please ask her to stop doing it at karate.

2 moms found this helpful

K.L.

answers from Sacramento on

Yummy!!! Hahaha, kidding! Totally gross! Her mom should be scolding her for that nastiness...

I would definitely say something to her mom. If it had a chance to affect my child's health, I'd call her out on it. So gross!!!

1 mom found this helpful
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L.M.

answers from Seattle on

Ugh.... I would talk to the instructor in private about situation.z

1 mom found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

My daughter takes Karate.
The Sensei instructors WILL tell the kids, about hygiene... because of it being a contact sport.
They tell the kids.... to wash their hands, and if sick stay home.
And they will tell the kids to go wash their hands.
The kids are allowed to go to the bathroom at any time.

1 mom found this helpful

C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

Maybe her mom asks her to stop and a million times a day and already gives her consequences for doing it...and yet she still won't stop. Maybe one day she'll get pressure from her peers to stop this disgusting habit. That would probably work.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.W.

answers from Chicago on

I would say talk to the instructor and at least as her if she has noticed this and if she could offer her kleenex when she sees it happening. NASTY......a good friend of mine's children do this....thank god mine do not. It is the nastiest habit. It makes me gag too. If they are at my house and I see it happening I walk up to them and give them a look and a kleenex. I know their mom is aware of it...she just dosen't know how to stop it. I am grossing out thinking about it...:O.....

1 mom found this helpful

Y.C.

answers from Orlando on

I just eat dinner!!!!!!!
Ok, moving on, yes, I would say something to the instructor but I also like the idea of Mamazita.'
I don't know why the mom isn't saying something, I want to believe that she does at home but she doesn't like to correct her kid in public but she does at home, perhaps you mentioning make the child understand that people notice and what mom says is true.
However, is possible that the mom would say something.
Either way, you will be making this kid a favor and to the other kids as well.
Good luck

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R.K.

answers from Appleton on

When I was active in TKD we had a kid who was very disruptive in class. It got to the point that we couldn't learn because he was constantly inturupting. I gently reminded the instructors that WE PAY for the privledge if being there also. Martial arts classes are not cheap and there are many schools all over the place.

Remind the instructors or whoever runs the school that you pay for your child to be there and you will happily take your money elsewhere.

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J.K.

answers from Phoenix on

.

K.S.

answers from New York on

Oh my lord. Some kids REALLY don't give a damn about hygiene, or what other people think. I'm pretty sure it's a matter of the peer group getting on top of them. Sorry, Mom - no matter what you say or do, it's unlikely to make an iota of difference. Sure, offer a tissue, make a comment about "gross" and "germs".... but don't hold your breath. (Yep. My kid is one of those "booger" miners... and NO MATTER WHAT WE say or do, he just doesn't yet care.)

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J.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

The teacher should address this. My sons karate teacher makes a lesson out of it with the little ones. He talks about the problem of spreading germs, but also about the problem of being teased at school for nose picking or finger sucking. He explains that it is a habit worth breaking, and they will have to go wash their hands each time they do it. If a finger goes in their nose or mouth 10 times in class, they will be told to put shoes on, go to the bathroom, and wash up 10 times.

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K..

answers from Phoenix on

It's really the teacher's issue to take up with with kid/parent. It's not your business. Kids are gross. They pick their boogers, flick them, eat them, put their hands down their pants, lick their hands, etc., etc. I think you're just irritate because you have to watch it, but the reality is that you don't see most of the grossness.

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