10 Common Habits of Kids and How to Deal With Them

Does your little girl chew her nails to nibs? Has your child held his breath until he turned blue because you denied him an ice cream cone? Don’t fret – you’re not the only ones who find this behavior batty and annoying and yes, there is a way to change it.  
 
Now, the most important thing you need to know when you want to change an unwanted behavior is to first understand the reason why your child does it. More often than not, bad habits are a coping mechanism and your little boy or girl may fall back on these mannerisms when they are anxious, bored, frustrated, fatigued, insecure, stressed, unhappy, or sleepy. Many of these so-called bad habits are soothing to the child, even if they seem socially inappropriate for adults.
 
Not to worry though, since these behaviors are just emotional phases and most are not indicative of serious medical problems most of the time. Rest assured, your child will eventually outgrow them. Managing them can be a challenge, however. In most cases, you should simply ignore bad habits. Yelling at your child, calling attention to the habit, humiliation and punishment do not usually work to stop the behavior and may even boost its frequency. Instead, use the three Ps – Patience, Praise and Positive rewards.
 

Here are the some of these behavioral traits and how to deal with them:
 
1. Body Rocking – This is when a child rocks back and forth rhythmically while either resting on their elbows or knees, or while seated. This mannerism is observed at around six months and usually disappears by age two. Most children do this for fifteen minutes or less while falling asleep or listening to soothing music, and is known to be a self-comforting habit. There is cause for concern if the child is also experiencing developmental delays so consult your pediatrician for further insight.

 

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2. Breath Holding - Breath holding spells are a form of tantrum where a child holds his breath for a few seconds to a minute, possibly inducing unconsciousness. It usually happens between 18 to 24 months and stop by around age five. When a breath holding spell occurs, keep your child calm and protect him from injury as you would someone who fainted.
 
Two kinds of spells exist - pallid (skin turns extremely pale) and cyanotic (skin turns blue). The symptoms may also be a sign of anemia. The symptoms can be confused with a seizure and the first time this happens, you should take your child to your pediatrician for evaluation.
 

3. Favored Toy – Like Linus Van Pelt and his flannel blanket, the child forms an attachment to the item as a source of security in an otherwise alien environment. Most of the time, the child eventually tires of her beloved bear/stuffed doll/baby pillow and moves on. However, I am aware of at least one extreme case of a woman in her late 30s who still clings to a favorite doll she owned as a child. In spite of having an almost pathological devotion to this tattered, scraggly rag (there are horror stories of the whole household being turned upside-down when said doll turned missing), thankfully, this woman went on to pursue a career in medicine and is very much a productive member of society.    
 

4. Head Banging and Rolling – Head banging is when a child hits her head repeatedly against a solid object (crib, wall, etc.) – sometimes as often as 80 times a minute. Head rolling happens when an infant rolls his head from side to side while lying on their back. Children sometimes even rub the hair off the backs of their heads.
 
Although alarming to parents and caregivers due to concerns for injury, the child does not appear to be in any pain; they are content and calm while doing this. The habit usually begins around nine months and resolves by around age two. Episodes can last from 15 minutes to a few hours, and, like body rocking, occur while listening to music or falling asleep. Like body rocking, this is also a self-comforting habit, but children with stunted mental or emotional development carry this habit into later years.

 

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5. Hair Twirling and/or Pulling – Hair twirling or mild hair pulling resulting in minimal hair loss is just another self-calming gesture seen in infants and children and occurs when the child is relaxed, bored, or tired. Children usually outgrow this habit on their own. However, more extreme hair loss may be a sign of medical problems such as infection or other diseases thus you should bring your child to the pediatrician. A more serious version exists called trichotillomania, which involves pulling the hair from the scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, and/or pubic areas. This is a rare psychological disorder that often suggests underlying emotional problems and requires professional attention.
 

6. Nail Biting – This habit becomes more of a concern if it results in recurrent bleeding or a nail infection. Positive reinforcement strategies are your solution to curbing this behavior. When your child isn’t biting his nails, use the opportunity to describe what they are doing with their hands like, “You are molding clay with your fingers and making a pretty little bowl!” or  “You are using your fingers to make a nice finger-painting of a tree! It looks very nice!”  
 

7. Nose Picking – This disgusting tendency starts when a scab or crusting occurs from a cut, allergies or infection. Picking causes more nasal irritation and may create a vicious cycle, possibly causing frequent nosebleeds.  
 
Explain to your child that picking is not acceptable in public, but that they may use a tissue or handkerchief to clear out the nose or scratch that itch. Tell them that they can get sick and spread germs to others if they keep picking their nose. Make sure that they wash their hands after they pick or blow their nose. A saline spray can also help keep the nose moist and is a better option for asthmatic children; otherwise, putting a bit of petroleum jelly inside the nose a few times a day may help break the vicious cycle of nose picking and irritation. Talk to your pediatrician or family doctor to get a recommendation for reducing your child's nose irritation.

 

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8. Tics - Tics are frequently repeated twitches or movements that may involve any body part. The most common ones are facial tics, especially excessive blinking of the eyes. Temporary tics start during childhood or teen years, lasting anywhere from a month to a year, and occuring more frequently at certain times and not at others, with the child being able to suppress the tic voluntarily for minutes to hours. These are all fairly common.
 
In rare cases, there are more complex tics (notably vocal), which suggest Tourette’s Syndrome. If the tic occurs for more than a year or the child cannot suppress it, it may be a sign of a more serious problem and you will need to consult your child's doctor.
 

9. Teeth Grinding - Teeth clenching or grinding (also known as bruxism), is a mannerism seen in over half of all normal infants. Usually starting around age six months when the baby teeth come in, it again comes around five years when the permanent teeth erupt.
 
Bruxism happens mainly during sleep and the child usually outgrows it, but the habit may continue into adulthood. If it does, it may cause dental or jaw problems may need to be dealt with by a dentist through mouthguards and other dental appliances.
 

10. Thumb, Finger and Toe Sucking – Finger and toe sucking usually happen during the first few months of life. Most infants outgrow it well before their first birthday and most stop by the time they reach five years because of peer pressure.
 
Sucking can calm and appease a harried baby and often helps put them to sleep, which is why pacifiers are quite useful. This habit may become an issue when your child’s permanent teeth start coming out (around age five) as the sucking may alter the shape of the child's teeth, palate or bite (as I personally experienced, to my own chagrin). Ask your dentist for more information about this.



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