Do some of your child's habits bother you? (Common Childhood Habits)

Do you feel a little worried when you see the things your little one does sometimes? There are some habits that little ones do all the time, but as parents, we may be a little worried about them, or even think, "This is a big problem." But most of the time, these are normal things that happen as a child grows up, and are nothing to be too worried about. Today, let's talk about a few of these common habits.

What is a habit?

Simply put, a habit is something that a child does over and over again. Most of the time, when they do it, the child is not very aware of it, that is, they are not conscious. They do these things unconsciously. However, even if the child is not aware, parents can see these things very clearly, and sometimes they can even be annoying, right? Also, don't be surprised if you see your little one putting something in his mouth with one hand and twirling his hair with the other. These habits often don't come alone, they can come together several times.

What are the most common habits among young children?

Here are four habits that are often seen among young children and that may be troubling you too:

• Nail biting (or breaking)
• Touching, twisting, or pulling hair
• Cleaning the nose with a finger (nose picking)
• Thumb or other finger twitching

Let's talk about each of these in a little more detail.

Nail biting (or breaking)

Is it too late to cut your child's nails? Nail biting is a very common habit among young children. Like many young children, older children, that is, those who are young, bite or break one or more nails. Sometimes, rarely, some children can also be seen biting their toenails. As children grow older, this habit of nail biting is more common among boys than girls.

Touching, twisting, pulling hair

If any of your children constantly touch and twist their hair, it is likely to be your daughter. Because, this habit of touching, twisting, and sometimes pulling their hair is more common in girls . This habit can start at a young age and later develop into a habit of wearing their hair. There are times when hair is pulled and there are times when it is not. However, many children who twist and pull their hair give up this habit when they grow up. For those who do not give up, simple behavior modification, that is, simple methods that change behavior patterns, can help them break this habit.

But there is something to be careful about here. If you start this hair pulling habit at a younger age, it can be a little harder to break. Also, it can sometimes be a symptom of a mental condition like anxiety, depression, or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

Cleaning the nose with a finger (nose picking)

Nose picking seems to be a habit that begins in childhood and sometimes continues into adulthood. This is often something that the child does without realizing it. Although this is sometimes uncomfortable for us to watch, it is not a big deal to the child.

Thumb or other finger twitching

When children start sucking their fingers, they tend to suck their thumbs the most. This is thought to be due to the connection between their mouths and their thumbs when they were babies, when they were still breastfeeding. Some children suck other fingers, hands, or even their entire hands in addition to their thumbs. Most thumbsuckers are young children. It is said that about half of children between the ages of two and four suck their thumbs . Many children suck their thumbs to calm themselves down and to find comfort in themselves. However, if they continue to suck their thumbs very intensely after the age of four or five, it can cause some problems. For example, there may be dental problems (such as an overbite), infections of the thumb or other fingers, and being teased by other children.

Why do these habits arise?

While it's not always possible to say exactly why these habits occur, what they do know is that these are learned behaviors. And, these habits usually bring the child something good or enjoyable.

• As a pastime: Sometimes, a bored child may develop these habits as a pastime.
• As a way to calm down: But more commonly, these habits can occur as a coping mechanism to control something like anxiety or fear. Think about it, the next time you see your child biting their nails or twirling their hair, think about whether they have recently experienced a stressful event. If so, the behavior may be an attempt by your child to relieve stress, just as you might go to the gym to work out.
• When relaxed: On the other hand, some children practice this when they are very relaxed, for example before going to bed, or while listening to a song quietly.
• Childhood Memories: Some habits can be inherited from childhood. For example, very young babies suck their thumbs to soothe themselves. It is associated with the pleasure they get when they are satisfied with their milk. So, because of that good memory, the habit can continue into childhood.
• Family influence: Or, you can find out the reason why your child bites their nails by looking in the mirror in front of you. That is, do you also bite your nails? Research suggests that the habit of biting nails may have a family, that is, genetic, influence.
• Pay attention:Some children also engage in these behaviors to get their parents' attention or to manipulate them. If children feel that their parents don't care about them, they know that engaging in such annoying behaviors will inevitably lead to a reaction from their parents. So, they may do these things because of this.

How do you deal with this habit of your child?

Most of the time, these habits fade away. Usually, by the time a child reaches school age, they will either no longer need the habit or they will have outgrown it. However, if you feel like now is the time to help your child break the habit, consider these steps:

• Calmly and kindly explain to your child what you don't like about the behavior and why. This method can be used to help a child as young as 3 or 4 years old understand the behavior. Say something like, "I don't like it when you bite your nails, son/daughter. It's not nice to see. Can you stop it?" The most important thing is, when you see your child biting their nails, don't scold or lecture them. Punishing, teasing, or blaming will only make the behavior worse.

• Involve your child in the process of breaking the habit. Imagine that your five-year-old child comes home crying from school and the other kids tease him for sucking his thumb. This should be understood as a way of asking for your help. Parents can ask their children what they think can be done to stop this habit, or if they want to stop this habit. Together, think about what you can do to break this unwanted habit.

• Suggest alternative behaviors. For example, if your child is a nail biter, instead of saying, "Don't bite your nails," say something like, "Shall we wiggle our fingers?" This will reinforce the habit and act as a reminder. Distract your child by helping you in the kitchen or doing something else, such as a craft.

• Appreciate and praise self-control. For example, if your little girl is growing her nails, let her apply nail polish. Or, every time your son stops sucking his thumb, praise him, give him a sticker or other small treat to reinforce the good behavior.

• Be consistent in rewarding good behavior. If you ignore good behavior and ignore it, over time it will fade away. Before the old habit disappears, the new, good habit needs to be firmly established.

For best results, it's important for the child to be motivated to break the habit. Also, it takes time to form habits, and it takes time to replace them with new behaviors. So, be patient.

When does this habit become more than just a habit?

In some cases, a habit is the result of, or the cause of, a physical or mental problem. For example, a child who picks his nose may be experiencing discomfort because something is stuck in his nose. Also, these habits can lead to certain medical complications. Examples:

• A child who picks his nose gets a nosebleed.
• A child who chews their nails may develop ingrown toenails or nail infections.
• A child who sucks their thumb may have dental problems, such as a misalignment of the upper and lower teeth (a condition called `malocclusion`), or an infection in the thumb or other fingers.

A habit may no longer be a habit if it negatively impacts a child's social interactions or interferes with daily activities. If older children continue to suck their thumb, they may be experiencing significant stress or anxiety. If they are teased by other children at school or have difficulty speaking because they cannot take their thumb out of their mouth, the behavior may have crossed the line into a habit. Children who pull out their hair may have a condition called trichotillomania, which affects their hair. Similarly, habits that are a response to obsessive thoughts can be a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, most habits do not cause serious problems and will subside as children get older. However, if you have any concerns about this, talk to your child's doctor.

Finally, things to remember

So, parents, don't be alarmed by some of your little one's habits. Most of the time, these are normal behaviors that a child will grow up to be and will go away with time.

• Be patient: It takes time to break habits. Give your child and yourself time.
• Support your child: Understand them, talk to them in a loving way, and help them break this habit. Punishing, scolding, and teasing will not solve these problems, and may even make them worse.
• Praise the good things: When your child tries to control the habit, praise even the small things. This will give him more encouragement.
• Seek medical advice: If you feel that the habit is affecting your child's health, daily life, or social relationships, or if you are very concerned about it, be sure to see a pediatrician for advice.

Every child is different. So, what works for one child may not work for another. The most important thing is to give your child love, understanding, and the right guidance.

---

` Children's habits, nail biting, hair pulling, nose picking, thumb sucking, child psychology, parenting advice