ASK DOCTOR DAN

QUESTION 14

This is a problem, not for me, because it doesn't effect me but i'm really worried about my 6 year old cousin. I heard from my other cousins that she runs around and tries to pull down her pants in front of people in school. Though she goes to a private school, i'm worried if someone has told her to do it. Even though me and my sister explains things to her that this is wrong and she shouldn't do it, she continues to do so. What should I do? I'm afraid to tell her mom but I want to see what you guys think first.

Anonymous

DAN SAYS...

This sounds like a typical preteen habitual attention seeking problem that will go away with age, however you really do need to tell her parents about your concern. They have a right to know, and it's really their responsibility, not yours. You are right to be worried about her, and we all need to be on the lookout for our kids, but I am sure she is fine and is just craving attention. Kids do that all the time, and when they do something that gets a great reaction from people, they continue to do it because at least they're getting attention, even if it is on a bad note! Tell her parents, so they can take action to stop it.

LAURA SAYS...

I don't care if it's just the child craving for attention - you gotta tell her parents. There's no other solution other than that so she can get help if she needs it or just to have an understanding of why she's doing that. Not much else to do really. If something is going on, it will be found out and if this is mere attention-craving, then that will be taken care of as well.

q14