How To Prevent Nail Biting In Children
How can I prevent my children from biting their nails? You’ve probably asked yourself this question a million times. In fact, onychophagia – more commonly known as nail biting – is quite common in children.
There are many cases where parents think their children are biting their nails to get their attention. However, this is not really the case. Most children bite their nails unconsciously. In other words, they do not even realize they are doing it.
There is no point in scolding them or even pushing them if they keep biting. Below we will present a number of ideas to help prevent nail biting in children.
How to prevent nail biting in children
Use dialogue
The first way you can deter children from biting their nails is by talking to them. As we have said before, shouting, criticizing or threatening your children when you see them bite is not helpful.
It is important to understand that nail biting is in most cases a symptom of stress or nervousness. It may have to do with environmental factors or with the children’s personality. Therefore, insults due to nail biting will only make children more nervous and therefore make things worse.
Instead, calmly ask your children what they are thinking at the moment and how their day has been. It will help you discover if something worries them or makes them upset. When it comes to children, nail biting is usually due to three reasons.
Anxiety
When it comes to children biting their nails, dialogue is essential. You should find out what worries your children and try to help find a solution to the problems they face.
Association
On many occasions, nail biting is associated with a specific activity that children perform, usually to distract them. A common example is watching television. In doing so , we should check the times our children bite their nails and explain why it is a bad habit.
Imitation
Everyone knows that childhood is a time when children imitate everything they see around them. Below we will explain how you can help children who bite their nails due to imitation.
How to prevent nail biting in children who do it due to imitation
The mirror they see themselves in
It is a fact that nail biting is more common in children than adults. That said, there is a high percentage of individuals who carry this habit with them into adulthood.
If you are in this group, you should be aware of two things. First of all, your kids copy everything that goes on around them. This is especially true of their parents.
If your kids see you biting your nails, then they follow suit. Therefore, the first thing you need to do is avoid biting your nails in front of your children.
Second , you need to overcome this behavior to help your children do the same.
How? We would suggest that you suggest a play between you and your children. Anyone who takes one of the others in biting nails should make a specific sign as a reminder to stop.
In this way, children take on more responsibility for their actions and feel a sense of belonging with their parents. At the same time, when they see their parents overcome this habit, they will probably do the same.
Use other activities
As parents, we spend hour after hour observing what our children are doing. This means that you need to intervene before nail biting becomes a habit.
To do this , as soon as you see your children with their fingers in their mouths, suggest doing an activity that requires them to use their hands.
You can, for example, paint, draw, make a puzzle, build a tower, play with dolls, etc. Use the option that is closest to your children so that they can keep their hands busy as quickly as possible.
Show them your nails
If you do not bite your nails yourself, explain this to your children and show them your hands. That way, they will see the benefit of having beautiful, healthy fingernails.
