How can I help my 9yr old to stop smiling at inappropriate times?

Question

When I am correcting him, he smiles. It's very odd. Even when his sister upsets him he cannot stop that weird smile from breaking through. I am worried since school is about to start again, this will be seen as disrespect.

Answer 1

I know your pain!!! My son has done the same thing...just sit him down...tell him to look you in the eyes (which he will probably smile) and tell him that this is serious. It is not ok to smile when he is in trouble. If he continues to do it, he will get *insert privilege* taken away from him. Also, if he is anything like my son, he will be adored at school, and will probably not do that in school when he is in trouble because he knows he will be in even more trouble if he does it! I know this isn't much help, but just know that you aren't alone.

Answer 2

Leave him alone  It is a nervous/emotional reaction and as he gets older he should outgrow it.

Answer 3

It sounds like a quirk to me - a nervous smile. Let him notice that he's doing it, try to break the habit the same way you would break any other, keep reminding him about it whenever you see it happening.

Answer 4

Maybe its more of a pre-crying type of face instead of a smile. But instead of crying just stuck on that face or something.

Tell the teachers in advance if you cant get him to stop.

Answer 5

Usually a smile in those cases is a nervous smile like sometimes people smile when they are afraid. I would try to keep him aware of it just so as you said some people may see it as disrespect.

Answer 6

One of my daughters always smiled when she was really angry. It's actually served her well in the business world.

I wouldn't worry about it. Anyone working with him will catch on fairly quickly to this quirk of his.

Answer 7

you want to force a kid to stop smiling ? have you no heart ? :\

Answer 8

You need to talk to a pediatrician about this.  He could be having a difficult time emotionally, I saw a thing on TV about this once, it is an emotional problem.

Call his Dr, please don't let him go thru life without getting some help, his smiling is not something he can control at all in some situations I remember the show said...

He needs help before a teacher thinks he is laughing her off, and he can not show his real emotions....please..

Answer 9

My little brother did the same thing when he was young. It just happens you can't really stop it.

Answer 10

It will be seen as disrespectful, but if you let your son's teacher know about it ahead of time, she'll most likely be more understanding of it.  I had a student last year who did that exact thing, and when I discussed it with his mom, she said she was sure it was just him being embarrassed.  I wouldn't always buy that, but with this kid, I did.  It fit him, and it wasn't a big deal.  I just had to make sure I got some sort of appropriate verbal response from him to know that he understood he was being corrected.  Have you pointed it out to your son?  Maybe if he's aware that he's doing it, he'll be more apt to try to hide the smile.

Answer 11

He's doing it because he is nervous - I do the same thing. Maybe give the teachers a heads up so they will know he's not being disrespectful.