impulsivity

[rob444]

my daughter is a straight a student and does well in school but has recently developed problems picking up used gum (off the ground and under tables) and chewing it. It has been explained to her that it is very unsanitary but she has continued to do it. My wife and i are unsure how to handle this. the first time she was grounded the second time she did extra chores for a week and the most recent i lost my temper and yelled at her. could you please tell me what would be the best approach to hopfully see positive results or could she maybe have something called behavioral impulsivity.
Thank you

[Sknypig]

Omg!! My seven year old twins do this!!!nothing has worked to stop this!!! They get sick from it too..about three days later they get a respiratory bug....I have tried everything including giving them gum but they eat it up and swallow it so the dr said no more because it could cause a impaction...they have issues with ADHD/ODD and they just don't seem to care how gross it is!! My twins had serious bleeds in their brains when they were born..they were not even 25 weeks along..they were around one pound each...they look and appear normal but they have major issues...I know your post is old but I hope you figured out why your daughter was doing that..

[mammo]

Have you just sat down with her and asked her why she likes to chew gum that has been chewed by others? She's plenty old enough to talk to about this, and again I think communication is key.  Most kids by this age find this digusting and something we don't do, so you may only get the answers from her.

[rob444]

she has had the braces for almost a year now and was allowed to chew gum before but was not a heavy gum chewer. The occuances that we have had are generally in a non stessfull environment (mostly family dinner at a restaraunt). The last incident she ate her dinner and was allowed to have a small piece of hard candy. She was caught palming a piece of gum for later afterwards that she picked from the bottom of the table.
Thanks!

[Sandman2]

   I would think that the impulsivity would show up in more places than just gum chewing if that were the case.
  Gum chewing can be a tension release.  Maybe try a soft squeezing ball or something like that which she can use when she feels the need.
   I also have a vague memory that there is one kind of gum which doesn't stick, your ortho would know about it.
   Another possibility might be some type of a hard, small candy like tic tacs to compensate.
   I guess the problem is figuring out why she is doing this.  A stress relief, a habit that's hard to break?  Its probably not for the sweet taste if its old gum she is chewing.  How long has she had her braces, and was she a heavy gum chewer before the braces?

[rob444]

I apologize. In my haste to post i left out some details. My daughter is 9 and has braces so she is not allowed to have gum. she is allowed snacks and/or desert sometimes but not always. thanks!

[mammo]

Does she get gum from you or her mother?  Try keeping gum handy and tell her when she wants gum to let you know and you will give her some.  You don't say how old she is so it's difficult to say how concerned you should be.  If you can tell us her age it would help.  Thanks!