Contents:
- Medical Video: 5 Ways to Stop Biting Your Nails!
- 1. Overcome your child's anxiety
- 2. Don't nag or punish your child
- 3. Help the child when he wants to stop
- 4. Talk about how to stop nail-biting habits
- 5. Make your child aware of his habits
- When do I have to worry about nail biting habits in children?
Medical Video: 5 Ways to Stop Biting Your Nails!
Your child can bite nails for several reasons, such as curiosity, boredom, stress relief, or habits. Nail biting is one form of "nervous habit"Or the habit of relieving nervousness, which also includes habits such as thumb sucking, picking nose, twisting hair, tugging or clenching teeth, and usually continues into adulthood.
Nail biting is one way to eliminate tension in children. In general, children often feel anxious, such as when learning new things at school, or embarrassed when on a busy program and on the children's playground. If your child is biting his nails at these times, it is just a child's way to deal with stress or calm down and nothing to worry about. Usually preschoolers will stop by themselves, but if this habit continues or you can't endure, there are a number of things you can do to help your child stop biting his nails.
1. Overcome your child's anxiety
It is important to know what causes the habit and if your child is stressed about something. If you know the cause of anxiety in your child, such as moving house, parental divorce, or a new room, make your child feel comfortable telling it.
2. Don't nag or punish your child
Like other nervous habits, nail biting is usually done unconsciously. If your child is not aware of his nail-biting habits, nagging and giving a sentence is not an effective action. Adults also find it difficult to get rid of bad habits, and some parents also realize they often do habits such as twisting hair while on the phone.
As long as your child does not endanger himself and does not look stressed, what you can do is cut his nails neatly to reduce the desire to bite your nails, keep your child's hands clean, and try to shift your child's focus.
If you press the child to stop, you will only add stress and nail biting habits will worsen. Giving certain treatment before your child is ready to stop, such as applying bitter liquid to the child's nails, will make him feel punished. The fewer disruptions faced related to habits, the easier it is for the child to break the habit when he is ready.
3. Help the child when he wants to stop
If your child is laughed at by friends because their nails are bitten, your child may want to stop and he needs your help. Make your child tell taunts from his friends, and how he feels. Convince your child that you love him anyway. Then start giving a solution.
4. Talk about how to stop nail-biting habits
Discuss with your child about his habits and how to stop the habit. You can read booksWhat to Do When Bad Habits Take Hold: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Nail Biting and More by Dawn Huebnerand & Bonnie Matthews.
5. Make your child aware of his habits
Make an agreement with your child to remind him when he is unconsciously biting his nails, such as by touching his arm or mentioning a certain password. Give substitute activities such as toys or elastic soft balls that he can play with.
Some children can use the reminder method if they do their habits again. This is only effective if your child wants to try it, but if not, he will feel punished. You can stick tape or colorful stickers on your nails, or polish children to help them stop biting your nails. Check with the pharmacist what products are safe for your child.
Children have different preferences, but in general, the more your child feels involved partner in an effort to stop this habit, it's easier for your child to succeed.
When do I have to worry about nail biting habits in children?
In rare cases, nail biting can be a sign of excessive anxiety in children. Consult your doctor if your child is biting the nail so that his hand is injured or bleeding, or if the child is biting his nails while doing anxious behavior such as scratching the skin, pulling hair, or eyelashes, or sleeping patterns becoming irregular.
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