Your child may bite his nails for many reasons, whether it be boredom, stress or curiosity.It is most common among the so-called bad habits, which ranked as thumb sucking, picking your nose, wrap the hair on your fingers, etc.In addition, it is a habit, and often moves into adulthood.
Why do children bite their nails?The process of growing up for a child can carry a lot of alarms, many of whose parents are not even aware.If your child bites his nails moderately (not self-harm) unknowingly (for example, watching TV), or does it only in certain situations (for example, of public speaking, or control the work) - it is only way to deal with a little stress,and you do not have to worry about.
Most likely, your child will soon cease to do so itself.However, if you believe that he bites his nails too long, or you simply can not remain indifferent to this habit, there is a way to help your child to unlearn biting his nails.
First of all, try to understand what is the reason that causes this behavior.Perhaps your child is experiencing stress, over which you need to work together.If you can guess what may be the cause of anxiety (recent move, parental divorce, a new school or impending action before the peers), try to talk to the child about what was bothering him.Usually, it is more difficult than it seems, but if you resort to certain tricks, for example, offer as a reason frankly ridiculous option ("I know! So you're trying to sharpen their teeth!"), It can work, and encourage your child to tell you about their worries.This is one way to understand why children bite their nails.
Do not nag or punish your child.Apart from the case when he sincerely wants to stop biting his nails, there is little you can do about.Like other nervous habits, it usually occurs unconsciously, regardless of why children chew nails.If the child does not even notice that it is doing, to scold and punish him completely useless.Even adults sometimes very hard to get rid of such habits (I sometimes biting his nails before you make a financial report or to go to the office of the head).If it really bothers you, try to set some limitations: for example, do not let the nail biting at the dinner table.
If your child is not hurt yourself and not look too worried, the best thing you can do - shave his nails short enough to remind him of the need to frequently wash their hands and not to pay special attention to his habit.If you resort to pressure, not understanding why children bite their nails, you risk increase stress and worsen the situation.Moreover, the direct intervention on your part, for example, the use of ointments with an unpleasant taste, can be felt by the child as punishment.The less attention you paid to this habit, the more chance there is that it will soon disappear from the life of your family.
