Nose Picking... So Gross!!

When you catch her picking her nose explain to her that germs live in our boogers and we don't want to be sick. Have her get a tissue and put the snot in the tissue and then throw it in the trash. Kids love to be praised and told that they are doing a great job. Keep reminding her how grown up she is and how she is HELPING everyone not get sick. (I work on a schoolbus and I have watched a junior high boy do this and I almost puked!)

I'm sorry but I had to laugh. My Daughter also did this. We told her everything. Ladies don't do that, your finger will get stuck, ect... It's totally gross, and embarressing in public. It's a phase, sorry but you'll have to wait her out. Ours in 4.5 and has just now stopped.

The more attention you bring to it, the more she will do it. If it helps - many kids her age do this. I volunteer in my son's preschool class and witness a handful of kids doing this on my visits (thankfully he isn't one!) However, he was a picker for a while there - he wouldn't eat it though. When he'd really be digging, I wouldn't make a big deal of it, I'd just casually say, "need a shovel?" he'd laugh and find something else to do! LOL! I've heard from many experts that the more attention we bring to behavior we are trying to discourage, the more likely the child will keep on doing it. So, maybe in your case, just ask her if she needs a tissue. Show her when she does get a boogy - how to go put in on a tissue and throw it in the trash and be sure to catch her doing this and praise her! Best wishes, M.

As a daycare provider, I've come across this one a lot. Some people will say ignore it, but frankly that does nothing to teach better behavior and just lets the kids continue with a gross and unsanitary habit. When I have a nose picker, especially at that age, I just let them see and know how grossed out I am at what they're doing. If I see a finger up their nose, I call them on it immediately "John, ew! Get your finger out of your nose. That's so gross! We don't pick our noses and we DEFINITELY don't eat them! That's yucky! Now we have to go wash your hands." and off to the bathroom we go. If they ate the booger, I will sometimes use a papertowel to wipe it off their tongue, which kids HATE. I've heard people tell kids that eating boogers is just like eating poop, which in a way is true since they're both body wastes. That image might help gross her out as much as her booger-eating grosses everyone else out. Good luck!

would a humidifier help? I think it gets worse when the air is dry. Maybe some saline spray ask your dr first if its ok.

I had a friend who told her niece (3 years old) that eating boogers would cause you to grow hair on your hands! The girl bought it and NEVER ate another booger. But, her parents did have an embarrasing moment at the store when she pointed out a guy who "Must eat a LOT of boogers"!!! Don't know if it would work for your girl, but I wanted to share. :)