Hi Moms,
My four year old seems to constantly be burping or passing gas. She says excuse me(most of the time), but laughs and can't seem to let it go. She thinks it is the funniest thing. I tell my kids, it's a natural thing, say excuse me and move on. She can't stop laughing which gets my 2 year old going. Even my 6 year old is tired of it and is contantly telling her to stop. What can I do? I have tried ignoring it and putting her on a break alone but it still goes on a lot. Thanks in advance!
Just to add, I think this website is so great, I have had so many questions answered by just reading other moms requests. It is so nice to know we are not alone. Take care
L.
My son went thru a stage like that and I visited his classroom and found to my horror that that behaviour was rampant in his classroom and his teacher didn't stop it. In the end i decided that that environment was not good for him and changed schools. Is there somewhere she is seeing this outside of your home?
If not I am sure it will pass,and you just have to reinforce the
behaviour you would like to see.
P..
Hi L.,
Manners are very important to me.... second only to family harmony and at home intimacy.
Your little ones are still at the age where certain things are funny at home, but will not be so funny in public. Your oldest has begun to realize this.
You can let your burper/gassy girl know that she may think it’s funny, but it hurts her sister’s feelings (she probably doesn’t understand the concept of embarrassment yet).
You can also tell her “ever so gently”, that someday (soon) she will do this outside the home and her feelings may be hurt, because burping and passing gas in public, is just NOT nice. Sometimes you can’t help it, but most of the time YOU CAN!
Ask her to practice at home, by “asking to leave the room, be excused”, when she thinks she needs to do something private. If she makes a game out of this or abuses being excused.....THEN we have another topic to address.
She's saying excuse me,so that's good. Laughter is great!! Who cares what causes it!
And shoot, Kim B., you mean I have to stop passing gas???? :)
I would be sure to advise her on saying excuse me, and just ignore the silliness that follows. Teach the other children and adults in her life to do the same. Be sure to bring attention to her when she is polite and uses her manners otherwise don't acknowledge the silliness as you may just be feeding the fire. So no attention positive or negative unless she uses her manners. It is hard too, because gas is a funny subject.
Be sure that the older child sets an example and says excuse me after a gas episode. Then praise her. The 4 year old will see the attention she gets for having manners about the subject and may follow suit. Good luck!
T.
Founder
www.theparentpack.org
I tell my 4 year old that there are some things that "big girls" don't do if at all possible (passing gas, picking nose, etc.)if they want to be treated like a big girl.
I remind her of all the nice things that big girls get to do that little girls don't get to do. I then ask her if she wants to be treated like a big girl or a little girl. If she chooses to act like a little girl, she only gets to do the types of things that little girls do.
