My two year, 8 month old son is a nose picker. Not uncommon, but he also eats what he finds! It all began when he was one years old (not even talking yet) and his sister, who is eight years older, demonstrated how to eat boogers. She pretended of course, to be funny but it stuck. He immediately copied her, and the rest is history. She denies it to this day, but I was there, I know. Anyways, we tell him its yucky and he responds usually by eating it quicker, and pulling his hand away. We tease him gently, for example when reading bed time stories, we notice he is doing it and start substituting the word "boogers" into the story - so we can joke about it. I'm imagining him starting school, though and absentmindedly eating his boogers during class...any other Moms have kids who went thru the same stage? Does it resolve itself? PS. My father was a life long nose picker, maybe its genetic?
When I was a kid, my sister told me if I ate them, my skin would turn green. You know, I swear there was a kid in first grade who ate his and his skin had a green hue! Anyway, how about a reward system for not eating them?
I did a quick word search on Amazon and came up with a book called Dude, That's Rude! Maybe someone else has read it and can give there opinion on it?
I feel your pain. My 3-year-old does this, too. Worse, his younger brother copies EVERYTHING he does....can you see where this is going? Ugh. After reacting quite strongly once or twice, I'm trying a campaign of ignoring the behavior. I do let him know that in public this behavior is considered rude and is not appropriate. I'm just hoping that he will 1) do it in private, and then 2) grow out of it!
Let me know if you find something that works, please!
When my now 8yo daughter was 2 I answered the door while holding her. On the other side was my ministers wife, who immediately started laughing. When I looked at my little angel, she had one finger in each nostril. Much to my dismay she proceeded to put them in her mouth, suck them off and proclaim " YUM!"!! I can feel your pain. She is still a picker, but has learned to do it in private- usually our car!!! When you see him start digging, offer him a tissue if you can. He'll get the idea!
I would stick to "looks like you need a tissue" and give it to him. Also show him how to blow his nose by trying to blow out a candle with his nose (but be careful) :)
you could also tell him he can pick but... he needs to go to his room to do it because you don't want to see it. kinda like a mini-punishment when he has to leave the room
hope this helps
