Self-conscious Behavior in 11 Yo Girl

Updated on December 17, 2011
S.D. asks from Saint Louis, MO
4 answers

I have a very lovely daughter. She very tall and looks much older than 11. She's always been a tomboy and is very into sports. She's been developing for a while , and just recently started her period (my BABY!!) We've been talking for several years about her body, the changes she is/will go through and we have a good relationship there. I got her the American Girl book that covers all those things, and she's read it from cover to cover, along w our conversations.

The issue is that she has started the self conscious habit of pulling at the front of her shirt. She has some boobies, but not anything crazy or disproportionate to her body. The habit is driving my husband nuts, and it bothers me. She's always pulling at her shirt, even when she's playing sports. She has bras, sports bras and all of that....her tee shirts aren't tight. Any form fitting shirt won't be for long...not that she normally wears any. She's usually in T-shrits or hoodies or some such.

I'm kinda stuck on what to do...she knows she does it. We've chatted about it some. Should I just let it go, gently remind her to stop when she does it....WHAT? She does it during bball games and call MORE attention to her body...when all eyes are already on her. She's generally been a pretty quiet/shy girl but is generally pretty confident (for an 11 yo girl)

Has anyone ever had such an issue. Advice please!!!

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More Answers

S.D.

answers from Phoenix on

have her wear a undershirt tank top that will secure everything as she tends to pull the outter shirt. my daughter has nervous habits too......it drives me crazy. I have nagged and tried to control it so much over the years and it just makes it worse on me and her hearing me nag. So as much as I want to tell you too stop nagging her and telling her to stop and have the manners ..... it has been difficult for me to even do that. So I continue on and on and on not knowing how to make her stop. So instead, if she has a undershirt or something that keeps the package in..... the pulling of the shirt will just be an annoying issue but nothing will be seen.
I am sorry I have no other advice for you. :0(

*** Wonder if we video tape them and the behavior, they can see it and maybe they will stop ????/ hmmmmmmmm

1 mom found this helpful
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K.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

My daughter (11 in a couple of weeks) does something similar to hide her chest. She doesn't pull at her shirt, but she walks around with her arms crossed (which makes her look like she's pi$$ed off) or kinda around her waist and hunching her back or arms bent up so her hands kinda hang out right at her chest area (which makes her look like a hamster). She looks strange and uncomfortable in all three positions and I've told her again and again that she looks fine, she doesn't need to hide herself, she's bringing MORE attention to herself by her strange poses, but she can't seem to stop herself from trying to hide her chest.

She IS a bit more developed than other girls in her grade, so I'm hoping that as they all catch up, she sees that she's not really any different and will accept her new form . I don't want her flaunting her curves, of course, I just want her to be happy with what she naturally has.

I hope you get some good ideas here, because I could sure use them, too.

M.L.

answers from Houston on

The best way to redirect a bad/nervous habit like that, is to teach her other things to do with her hands when she is feeling self conscious.

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L.R.

answers from Washington DC on

Have you asked her if her bras are comfortable? Yes, it's pretty normal for girls this age to be self-conscious and do things like she's doing thinking it hides them a bit (when it doesn't), but the problem also could stem from having less than ideal bras. She may not even realize that her bras aren't a great fit anymore unless you bring it up; she might say they're fine because the whole topic makes her self-conscious, but see if she's open to having some alone time with you to have her try them on and ask her is this strap too tight, is this band around your chest too loose, etc. You might find that she is ready for a different style, too -- my daughter pulls at her bra when she's wearing anything other than a very soft sports-style bra so we made a switch. Your daughter wears these but might need a different type. Just a thought. She might also appreciate your wanting to help her, if she has been feeling the bras "just don't feel right" but has been too self-conscious to bring it up on her own.

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