This is really gross. Why would a child pick at a scab & then eat it?

Question

I volunteer at a Head Start Center twice a week teaching Art. This is my 1st encounter with this problem.

In the past, I've had students that ate all sorts of things including: paste, chalk, earwax, erasers, pencils, water colors, fingernails, crayons, mucus (a.k.a. snot), dirt, mud, bugs,string, their hair, cuffs &/or collars on shirts, gum, but this is a new one on me.

Answer 1

The kids are doing this because they are experimenting with everything new, they would eat and do anything else with objects that are not knowen to them that well.

Answer 2

When I was in 1st grade, I consumed paste, paper, Elmer's Glue, bugs, scabs, paint, Crayola Crayons, and ivy leaves.  I did this to scare the other children and freak out the teacher.  I was bored most of the time.   mh

Answer 3

Curiosity?

Answer 4

i am a kid and NO

Answer 5

This is simply another version of those children who ate all those other things. Just instruct him/her not to eat his scabs, and everything will be fine.

Answer 6

Because they're kids. Little people do lots of weird things-they put everything in their mouth. "Tasting" things like this is really exploratory, and completely normal. It's no different from all the other things you have listed.

Answer 7

i understand picking the scabs...kids just do. but eating it is disgusting.

Answer 8

I dunno i did that too when i was little

Answer 9

The same reason they eat boogers.  It tastes good to them or they don't know what else to do with it.  They might be board or doing it for attention.  There could be a hundred different reasons.

Answer 10

Kids will eat just about anything.  This is where you jump in as a 'teacher' and instruct the kid to not do that!

Answer 11

Kids eat gross stuff because they have no sensibilities yet; they don't know it's gross or wrong; and they are curious. I ate paste, baby cream, glue, and when I picked my scabs I saved them in a little clear plastic box. This was in Kindergarten.

My brother ate butter and raw bacon! Just gently explain it is not a good idea, and discourage the behavior by distracting and amusing the kids...keep them too busy to do stuff like that.

Answer 12

i dont know myself i baby sit two boys and i still havent figured it out i just say no dont do that eww gross

Answer 13

I only know of one person who has done this, but they worry more than anyone I know. Maybe this person even at young age has a lot on they're mind. Maybe they don't have a very good home life.