One of the biggest struggles we've had lately is helping our son understand better manners or to help him stop bad habits. One in particular has to do with his nose and picking. When we ask him about this, he tells us it is because the "nose bugs" bother him, which we don't disagree, however we know and tell him that it isn't polite to pick his nose. Even with telling him to blow is nose, that finger just keeps finding its way back to the nose. Any advice?
Social stories! They've been a lifesaver for us for all kinds of behavioral and/or habit issues. Here is a link with a ton of resources with websites for social story making and help:
http://www.theoatc.org/resources/documents/Reso...
Also, depending on how much he understands, you can also tell him that nose-picking is a "private" thing - that if he feels he must do so, to go to the bathroom to do it!
Good luck, Anne
I had heard that nose picking might be a "nervous" tactile response. If you could put something in his pocket that he can constantly "feel," like a little balloon filled with sand or a cotton ball, etc. and keep him occupied with something else besides his nose, this habit might go by the wayside. I tried this with my son (who was always playing with his genitals or picking his nose) and it did help.
This is a tough one, for my son it was picking at his face or eyebrows. I'm all about reinforcing appropriate behavior, so maybe set up a token chart and for every hour or so you DONT see him picking- give him a token. Set it up where he earns something special for however many tokens. The other thing is that he needs a replacement behavior, maybe something to do with his hands. Maybe a fidget toy?
social stories and maybe a humidifier