7-year-old won't take his hands out of his pants?

Question

My 7-year-old nephew lives with us, and he has somehow picked up the habit of putting his hands down his pants. I don't think he even realizes it until someone tells him to take them out. He'll just be talking to us or running around the house with his hands down them. I'm worried that he might start doing it at school or in public, if he doesn't already!! Not only is it unsanitary, but he's school-aged, so it could become embarassing as well. Is there anything we can do to break the habit, or should we make him only wear jeans with a belt?

Answer 1

tell him to stop it and if he does get him a small gift

Answer 2

tell him that it is embarrassing and that it is very nasty and it is not healthy

Answer 3

Well, ask him why he's doing it. He could be feeling some discomfort, and that's why he's sticking his hand there. Ask him where he learned the habit.

Ask him questions and tell him it's not right to do it. If he proceeds, then yeah make him wear belts.

Answer 4

Buy him pants or a shirt that has pockets that way he can stick his hands in the pockets.  Also explain to him where his hands should and shouldn't go and show him alternative places to stick his hands like his pockets maybe you could reward him for not doing it.

Answer 5

Tell him that he shouldn't do it and its not appropriate to do in public. Also make him go wash his hands after every time you catch him doing that.

Answer 6

I know a some guys that never out grew that

But, there could be something wrong

Also tell him not to

He will stop doing this, if it's just a habit, if you keep after him

Answer 7

I have a 7 yr old son also and to my surprise its actually extremely normal behaviour according to a professional child psychologist that i chose to talk to.

I think its just a male thing to be honest, as my hubby does it constantly (when hes at home) and its nothing new to me.

You just have to be gentle in handling it, as i understand that although to us its not a great look but they do not mean anything by it, its just part of discovering themselves and maybe habit. Approach it each time with care and not anger, communication is a big thing and you dont want to lose that so just talk talk talk and explain whats appropriate behaviour in public compared to when hes at home. Its nothing to be alarmed about anyway so its fine, just avoid anger towards him, after all its his body and he does not mean anything by it.

Its hard i know, but who said it was meant to be easy hahaha, im quite lucky as i have my sons full trust and he does tell me everything, to a degree as i understand that all kids have things they will never tell their parents (i didnt come down the last shower) hehehe...

All the Best

but im sure you will be fine and it will all work out.

Shelly

Answer 8

My five year old had the same issue come to find out she had a bladder infection and her "parts" were hurting. Maybe he is feeling some pain but is too afraid to say so. He is also at that age where little kids tend to "touch" themselves. Just talk to him about it. It will be hard for him to break the habit if you make him feel like a perv for doing it.

Answer 9

make him wear jeans with a belt.

Answer 10

Explain to him that the right time to explore down there is in the bath, not in public because it's bad manners. Try putting up a chart, every day he doesn't do it he gets a star, when he has say 5 stars he gets a reward. Also perhaps give him pants or a jacket or something with pockets he can put his hands in comfortably.

I wouldn't be too worried, kids do these kinds of things.

Answer 11

boys are gonna do that because their boys.

we told my seven year old nephew that it is natural for guys to do that but only in their rooms and not in front of anyone else.

Answer 12

first usally kids put there hands down there pants becuz they see people putting there hands in there pockets dont worry what you can do is trick him and say like if you put your hands in your pants your private will fall off and you cant pee the rest of your life ore youll have to get shots and surgery something imainary that will make him not put his hands down there.

Answer 13

Honestly it is common for this to happen. My two girls did this and I've seen my son who is 6 do this.

You just have to kindly remind them each time.

As for embarrassing, your right is it and it will be for him if others do see him. But that may be all it takes to help him break the habit.

Also ask him why he does it? Ask him if he has an itch or needs to go potty.

My husband & inlaws tell stories of my brother in law who from around age 4-9 always said his "butt itched". He saw dr's and he was fine. He saw a few. lol He was checked for pin worms and other things. All gave him a clean bill of health.

It was something he just had to out grow. He always had his hands in his pants too.

Your nephew will out grow this. Just kindly remind him about it, give his hands something to do and keep him busy. If you see him with his hands in his pants ask him "Do you have an itch?" or "Do you need to go potty?" He'll most likely get tired of hearing this.

Plus it may take just one time for his friends as school to see this to help him stop. Sad but true.  

Also if you catch him send him to wash his hands right away. When my daughter did this she ended up getting germs her mouth & a few times threw up from. It was very gross yet helped her remember where her hands didn't belong. Plus to wash them when told.

Answer 14

maybe he's found something.  maybe hand him something else.

Answer 15

is his right hand his best friend yet