Thumb-sucking. Hair twirling. Nail biting. Cuticle picking. Nose picking. What child doesn’t have a bad habit that drives parents crazy?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the causes of annoying habits like these are unknown, but their repetitive nature suggests that their purpose is to soothe or calm.
In many cases, as children mature and develop greater self-control over their behavior, bad habits will stop, most often by age 8, the academy says.
For the most part, people act on habits with little awareness or consciousness, said Dr. Mery Taylor, a child and adolescent psychologist at CHOC Children’s Hospital of Orange County. Bad habits might not seem serious but nail biting and cuticle picking can lead to ugly nails or bleeding cuticles, and excessive hair twirling can lead to hair loss, Taylor said.
Before accepting that your child will endure a lifetime of baldness and bad manicures, know that even the worst habits can be corrected.
First off, punishment usually doesn’t work, Taylor said. “It’s a behavior that they really can’t help.”
Taylor suggests that parents try to figure out when the child is engaging in the bad habit and possible triggers. Does the negative behavior happen during homework time? Is it when the child has free time? Does the behavior occur when the child is stressed? Is the child restless and needing something to do with his hands?
“Keep a little notebook. Then prepare a game plan. Do this for a week. Let it go and see what comes up,” said Taylor.
If the child is chewing on her hair or biting her nails during stressful times, ask what is bothering her, Taylor said. Have the child perform relaxation techniques like deep breathing before he starts homework, or engage the child in positive self-talk. Have the child repeat, “I can do this!” Let him take a short break during homework time to help maintain calm. If the child starts biting her nails in the car, offer a toy or a stress ball to act as a distraction and keep little hands busy, she said.
If the child engages in the bad behavior while relaxing or watching television, offer Play-Doh or Legos to play with or have him put on special mittens until the urge passes.
