8 Year old constantly playing with self

[righter96]

My 8 year old son has a problem with constantly having his hands in his pants. The only thing I've noticed that helps is when he has his shirt tucked in for baseball, but then he plays with himself from the outside of his pants. All I have to do is look at him when he's doing it and he stops, but 10 seconds later, he's doing it again. He has been doing this for about 6 months or more now. Nothing I do stops him. He says that he doesn't know why he does it. I've tried putting tape on his hand so that it would be uncomfortable for him, but as soon as the tape was off, he started again. My fiance suggested that I make him wear jeans with a belt all the time, but it's summer and he is a heavy sweater and would get heat rashes easily. Should I take him to the doctor? Is there anything I can try at home to get him to stop this. It's getting to be very embarrassing. Thanks!!

[MomofDom]

My daughter also does this. She does not do it in public but I catch her doing it in her room alot. She says she does not know why she does it. I am confused on why she is doing these things....HELP

[BuddleiaGirl]

If he is medically ok, then it may be that he just likes to fidget and has unfortunately gotten stuck on this one. Like how some people bite their nails, they are hardly aware they are doing it. You will need to find him something else to do with his hands. An interesting textured keyring on his beltloop to finger, for example.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

You definitely should have him examined, in the event that he is trying to alleviate some discomfort. From a behavior management perspective, the wearing of a belt (it needn't be confined to jeans) might be helpful because to some extent it interrupts the behavior. However, as you've seen at baseball, it doesn't stop the behavior. If he is OK on the medical front, and the behavior has developed into a habit whereby he soothes himself, be straightforward in setting limits on it. Don't be shy to talk with him about the inappropriateness of this behavior in a public setting. Help him to see that it is perfectly OK in a private setting. Some children who are unusually insecure or anxious do this, and if that is the case it would make sense to seek an evaluation with a perdiatric mental health clinician.