You'll need their approval before you do anything else
If your child frequently bites their nails, it's tempting to assume that something is wrong with them emotionally, or that they're the only child with this bothersome behavior. However, neither is (necessarily) true. "An estimated 30 percent to 60 percent of kids and teenagers chew on one or more fingernails," according to Nemours KidsHealth. And, on rare occasions, a youngster may bite his or her toes." Well, at least they're not doing that. Still, it's not something you want kids to carry into adulthood.
What causes children to gnaw their nails?
Nail biting and picking is one of the most prevalent "nervous behaviors," along with nose-picking, hair twisting, and thumb-sucking. (Nail biting is technically referred to as a BRFB, or "body-focused repetitive behavior.") And, much to my relief, having a child who bites their nails on the soccer field isn't generally a symptom of a larger problem. Most of the time, it's an uncontrollable reaction to being interested, bored, or moderately nervous.
(However, if "his fingertips are ragged and bleeding, or if, in addition to chewing his nails, he picks his skin, tugs on his eyelashes, or is not sleeping well," you should see a counselor or doctor.)
Is there any harm in bitting one's nails?
Aside from the clearly irritating look and sound of someone nibbling on their hand skin like a squirrel just out of jail, there are some potentially harmful health repercussions. According to the Mayo Clinic, nail biting can:
- The epidermis around the nail is damaged, increasing the risk of infection.
- Spreading germs from your fingers to your lips increases your chances of getting a cold or another ailment.
- Your teeth will be harmed
While smoking does not offer any immediate or serious health hazards, you should kick the habit as soon as possible.
Methods for getting a youngster to quit chewing his or her nails
First and foremost, let's talk about what not to do. Excessive negative attention to the behavior can exacerbate it, so avoid humiliating, scolding, or shaming them by labeling the activity "disgusting" or asking questions such, "Why do you do that?" "Snapping, becoming enraged, or slapping their hand will just make them feel as though they've done something wrong, increasing their anxiety."
Begin by making a remark or asking a question in a calm and impartial tone. "I've observed you have a habit of biting your nails. Is it hurting your fingers? Is it something you'd prefer to give up? " You're not going to get very far until you gain their buy-in first, so focus on that first." If they are unwilling, putting undue stress or pressure on them to stop might exacerbate the problem. When they express a desire to stop, the following measures can help:
Give their hands something else to do
Toys like fidget spinners, Pop-its, Silly Putty, or stress balls can keep their fingers active while diverting their attention off their normal go-to habit by occupying their hands with a smooth "worry stone" to rub.
Using a sticker chart (or calendar) to graphically reflect any days (or chunks of days, such as "after school" or "while watching TV") that they don't bite their nails may be incredibly motivating. Determine how many stickers they must collect before receiving a little "reward."
Pay them with cash
We don't know whether the American Psychological Association supports this. Money, on the other hand, speaks to older children. Make a $1 deposit into a "No Nail Biting Fund" for each day they go without nibbling on their nail beds.
Find a nutritious substitute
Provide your youngster with a healthy option to fulfill their desire to munch. They could eat celery sticks, apples, carrots, or sugar-free gum, for example.
Try a bitter-tasting polish
Coat their nails in one of the numerous non-toxic but terrible-tasting "no-bite" transparent nail polishes available.
Book a manicure
As a reward for not biting, treat your youngster to a professional salon manicure with any polish of their choice (or sooner, to see if freshly painted nails work as a biting deterrent).
Create a signal
With their participation, create a brief signal you can use to quietly notify them that they're biting. A witty statement or short gesture that draws their attention to the conduct without eliciting unpleasant emotions.
#Kids #NailsBitting #BittingNails #BadHabits
SOURCE: lifehacker
What do you think of this blog? Write down at the COMMENT section below.
No comments:
Post a Comment