[Diana H.]

Have any of you had a child who chewed clothing? My 11-year-old son is destroying shirts, socks, and even couch pillows with his habit of chewing on loose threads. (And if the threads aren't loose yet, they soon will be!). I know it's a stress-reliever, but it's causing me stress every time I see a new shirt with a hole in it! His birthday was yesterday, and last spring I'd told him that if he could raise half the money himself, I would pay for the other half of a toy he really wanted for his birthday. At the beginning of the summer, I made a chart of how much each type of clothing, etc. would "cost" if he chewed a hole in it. He lost $10 from the amount I contributed for this toy; however, he received so much birthday money from grandparents, aunts, etc., that he still had enough for his toy. So now that incentive to quit chewing his clothes is gone. Any other ideas?