Sam, who just turned three, has a weird habit. Weird habits aren't uncommon for kids this age, but this one really is kind of weird even by toddler/preschooler standards. When Sam gets upset, mad, or anxious about something, he pulls his pants down. Sometimes he'll kick them off but most of the time he'll just stand there with his pants down around his ankles and be upset. He'll do it anywhere--at home, at the playground, at church, at school, at the store--anywhere that he gets upset. He doesn't do it all the time, but he does it often. It had started dying down over the last few weeks but it's picked up again. He's not in big-boy underwear yet so that makes it a little less inappropriate, but still, what's up with this? And how do I make it stop!?
These are just a few examples of Sam in three different places exhibiting this strange behavior:
In Massachusetts this summer at his Grandma's house...
At a hotel room in Maine on our drive up to Prince Edward Island...
At one of PEI's most picturesque spots...
It made this a rather comical photo opp instead of the lovely one that I envisioned!
I truly don't know what to do about this beyond trying to re-direct his attention before he tries to yank his pants down and telling him no when it happens. I'm sure he'll outgrow it. He better outgrow it!! The sooner the better!
