My eight year old son started to touch strangers

my son started 2 months ago touching people arms or giving hugs to total strangers in park, shops or talking to them asking their age, date of birth...., 

I talked to him about how inappropriate it is but he is still carrying on. 

Any experience?

Parents
  • No direct experience, but at a professionals' conference have heard care managers etc explaining that it is important for people to give a real world response when boundaries are crossed in this way. I don't know how old your son is, but sooner or later (i.e. in teens/adulthood) doing this to strangers could elicit a violent response, abuse (reciprocating what is seen as sexual behaviour, even if your son is not able to consent) or a call to the police.

    So you are right to try to address this now before it becomes more established and problematic. I hope others with more direct experience will reply with more practical strategies to help you and your son.

Reply
  • No direct experience, but at a professionals' conference have heard care managers etc explaining that it is important for people to give a real world response when boundaries are crossed in this way. I don't know how old your son is, but sooner or later (i.e. in teens/adulthood) doing this to strangers could elicit a violent response, abuse (reciprocating what is seen as sexual behaviour, even if your son is not able to consent) or a call to the police.

    So you are right to try to address this now before it becomes more established and problematic. I hope others with more direct experience will reply with more practical strategies to help you and your son.

Children
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