to be completely fed up of seeing my 12 year old son

[myfunnynametaken]

with his hand down his pants.

FFS it's embarrasing me. I've noticed it a lot this half term. Every time I look at him he's playing with it. I thought they grew out of this by the time they were 4.

I say "stop scratching yourself" and he stops for 5 minutes and the next time I look he's doing it again.

Why won't he stop?

tell him to go to his room to do it, thats what we tell ds (3).

"scratching yourself"?!

try "if you want to play with your willy please go and do it somewhere private"... repeat loudly, interspersed with "are you playing with yourself AGAIN"? especially in front of any friends / elderly relatives / strangers...

Hmm? A skin infection? Eczema?

You need to have a look to see if there's a problem. If not, talk to him about things he should do in private

mine did that for ages, i also noticed a teenager out in the park doing it the other day

A consultant at the hospital where I work constantly does that! He even talks to patients while having a scratch down there. I'm amazed none have ever complained.
I feel he was never told off by his parents for doing this as a child and as an adult, it has become difficult for him to "unlearn" this.

I just thought of something wicked - maybe threaten to scratch yourself in front of his mates if he doesn't stop?

LOL I'm gonna try controlfreakys approach.

Scrooged, I don't think it's an infection or eczema, thing is, he won't let me see.

LOL at qwertpoiuy too. I often threaten to answer the door to his mates naked.

LOL myfunnynametaken, a friend of mine actually did this!! She had repeatedly asked her sons not to walk around in their pants when her guests were there, finally she snapped and barged into the sitting room when their 'band' was rehearsing in just her knickers!!!!!!

Is he scratching 'down there' or in a particular place away from that area IWKWIM?

I tell DS1, "theyre called privates for a reason"

I bet he never did it again

ar Serin!

Our male PE teacher used to do it all the time.
Tell him to go to his room.

He may have Tinea Cruris (Jock Itch)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinea_cruris

Related to athletes foot and it is very embarrasing as it creates a red sore under the scrotum at the top of the legs that itches.

It can be trated with aathletes foot treatment and is very contagious and spread to other parts of the body. If he has it he will be very embarrased. It can be caused by wearing damp or dirty sports kit. You should ask your DP/DH to look or take him to the doctors.

If he has not got Tinea Cruris he may just be sweaty and itchy so perhaps boxer shorts may be better for him rtaher than tight fitting trunks.

On the other hand some boys and men cannot but help scratching down there - its a nervous unconcious comfort response and just needs to have it explained to him that it is off putting for girls and he will never have a girlfriend unless he stops.

God I hate this, I see loads of boys/men with their hands down their pants around here and always want to shout at them.

12 is way too old... my dss is 12 and would never do that now.

Absolutley tell him it's something you do in PRIVATE.

I should say Tinea Cruris is an extremely common condition in teenage boys - it is not a rare disease even though it has a frightening name.

My 11.8 year old always has his hand down his pants!

I just shout "get yer hand outta there" and he does, but it then goes back in, tbh I think it is force of habit more than anything else!

I often see teenage boys with their hands down their their tracksuit bottoms walking down the street. I have no understanding why they do this in public especially walking down the road. Arn't they at all embarrassed that they look like they're playing with it even if they aren't? Ds tells me they do it to keep their hands warm!!! That's a new name for it !!!!!