pants down...

Recently we have had a "pants down" thing in our neighborhood that I would really like to see go away. My son is 4 1/2 and the youngest in a group of 7 other boys in our neighborhood. We have some paths in a patch of woods behind our house and that seems to be the place for them to pull down their pants in front of each other in a very sneaky fashion, as in, knowing that it's wrong 'cuz they are on the lookout for me to come looking for them. They say they are peeing in the woods but the pants down have taken place inside while playing in his room and behind cars in the garage. We have discussed that this is innapropriate and I have spoken with the moms of all boys involved. But my son seems to not be able to kick this habit and it's embarrassing!!! What should I do!?!?  I don't know who started it or why and I don't know if my son is doing it all on his own now or being encouraged by the older boys.. I am nervous about what else might be happening and why.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Continue to establish a firm limit about this. In addition, closer supervision is required. He is too young to be outside your line of sight. You've got to tighten up on the supervision. You did a good thing by collaborating with the other parents. Continue to do that.