Gailmegan Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Just last week my 6 yo son started putting the tip of his pencil in his mouth in between problems/questions on his school work. I keep reminding him to take it out of his mouth, or gently reaching over and touching his hand to pull it away from his mouth. But he gets annoyed that I am distracting him from thinking about his work. He says he can't think if he doesn't put the pencil in his mouth. Any suggestions? TIA! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam "SFSOM" in TN Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Just last week my 6 yo son started putting the tip of his pencil in his mouth in between problems/questions on his school work. I keep reminding him to take it out of his mouth, or gently reaching over and touching his hand to pull it away from his mouth. But he gets annoyed that I am distracting him from thinking about his work. He says he can't think if he doesn't put the pencil in his mouth. Any suggestions? TIA! Gum. Bribe him. Reward with a gold star if he can think for one whole page without putting the pencil tip in his mouth. Or one whole row. An m&m per row. You just need to interrupt the habit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelli in TN Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 When you figure it let us know. I put everything in my mouth and I chew my nails. I would like to stop these things, but since I am in my 40's now I doubt I ever will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whisperlily Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Gum. Bribe him. Reward with a gold star if he can think for one whole page without putting the pencil tip in his mouth. Or one whole row. An m&m per row. You just need to interrupt the habit. :iagree: Gum keeps his mouth busy. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claire Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 How about that bitter stuff they put on pacifiers to break a pacie habit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeOnTheRanch Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Can you tape a big, fake flower to the pencil? I've seen them do that with pens in stores so people don't accidentally walk off with them. Of course you would have to use a separate eraser, but it probably wouldn't take long to break the habit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finding_sanctuary Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Gum might work. It's how I broke the pencil-chewing habit, and chewing my nails, too (several times...dang stress habits...) The bitter stuff might work, but it might not. We tried that on DSS when he couldn't stop chewing his pencils...no luck. I think he liked the taste. :glare: Pepper oil didn't work, either. I like the fake flower idea most. Make it something big, maybe scratchy, too, so he can't/won't want to put it in his mouth. Also...since the pencil tip in the mouth is the issue, could you find another habit that isn't a problem and redirect? I have to be touching (or chewing on) something while I think or I get really, really fidgety and can't concentrate. My dss and ds are the same way. Maybe your ds just needs some sort of tactile outlet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammy Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 There is hope.....I stopped biting my nails when I was around 40ish! I stopped when I saw a picture of my hands......YUCK....they looked awful! Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gailmegan Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share Posted March 19, 2008 I don't know why I didn't think of gum. I always used to chew it when I needed to concentrate, and he is ADHD like his momma. LOL. the flower sounds like fun too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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