So this is a hard one for me. My husband and I feel it isn't natural at such a young age as 6 to have this habit. It's even harder because it isn't my kid. The parents don't like him doing it though and so I'm supposed to try and stop it. But how do you tell a kid it's wrong when you aren't quite sure yourself? I mean, I feel that those feelings are sacred and shouldn't be aroused for mere fun, or boredom... but how do you explain that to someone else- especially if that someone else is 6, and you're not the parent. Maybe they don't want their kid to have the birds and the bees conversation yet.
So what happened with this boy: first off, he gets made fun of by his brother. There was one day it was particularly bad. I had just implemented a reward chart the day before. So, after having caught him in the act already five times in an afternoon (and unfortunately there was more) there was one time when he was supposed to get changed into his swimsuit to come outside and we were waiting for him. I yelled up to him and as he's coming down the stairs I asked what took so long... He looked down, ashamed, and said quietly, "you know...".
So I took him aside before I let him go outside. I mentioned how people might make fun of him for doing it, and then I brought up an idea. I told him I'd leave him a blank piece of paper the next day, and every time he touched himself the next day, to just make a mark on the paper. (With all his art projects, it wouldn't look weird). I wouldn't say anything the next day, he'd just count. Then every day after that he'd get an extra start if he stayed under that number. Every week we'd decide whether or not to lower the goal number, and if he ever had a day with 0, he'd get two stars.
The method was partially messed up because he wanted two stars the next day, so instead I estimated the times from the day before, when I first talked to him about our plan.
At this point, it hasn't been very long, but I have noticed improvement. Still working on it.
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