How to Successfully Break Child Habits

Children of all ages are bound to develop a habit. As infants, habits like finger sucking are almost inevitable. As they get older, they develop other habits like picking their nose or twirling their hair. While most of these actions have a practical use at first, they develop into a self-soothing mechanism. For more socially unacceptable habits, parents try to find solutions to get rid of these behaviors.

Childhood habits are harder to break depending on how long a child has been doing them. Throughout the process, some parents are met with rebellion. However, most habits can be broken with the right approach. Here’s a list of common habits and tips on how to break them.

Nose Picking

Boredom, an irritant, and comfort are common reasons for kids to begin regularly picking their nose. In addition to being inappropriate in public, nose picking can lead to chronic nosebleeds and infections.

For younger children who pick their nose, parents can explain to them that they should use a tissue instead of their finger. Another efficient tactic is everytime a child is caught picking their nose, they have to wash their hands. It seems tedious, but over time they’ll think twice before doing it again.

Hands in the Pants

Oftentimes, small children are curious about their bodies, which motivates them to touch themselves. It’s important that parents don’t discourage their children’s curiosity. If possible, encourage them to only explore themselves at home.

When parents notice their children digging in their behind, that can be a sign of infection. If this is the case, stay on top of cleaning their bottoms so they don’t dig and make it worse.

Nail Biting

Most small children don’t know how to use a nail file, so biting their nails is an alternative. For other children, it’s because of anxiety. Regular maintenance is an easy way to keep biting down. It also helps to give them a physical distraction like a fidget toy or some water to keep their hands from their mouth.

While some habits are cute, other habits can be harmful. Using these tips creates healthy coping mechanisms for the future.