Most children acquire some bad habits while they are young that as a parent can both concern us and drive us nuts. (See my blog Top 5 Bad Habits of Children.) Usually young children will stop the bad habit as they mature all on their own. By the time they enter school many children have stopped those annoying young child habits. But what if the habit continues? You don’t want your older child sucking their thumb or picking their nose all day. So here are some ideas that you can use to help break your child’s bad habits:
1. Don’t make a big deal out of the habit. Realize that your child has these habits for a reason and it is not to annoy you. The more attention you call to the habit the more your child is likely to engage in the habit. You also don’t want your child to feel ashamed because of their bad habit. Punishment is also a bad idea. In an article from Sesame Workshop Dr. Blackburn a child psychologist says, “Your instinct may be to come down hard and try to control your child’s behavior. But a bad habit is not a discipline issue and shouldn’t be treated like one. Don’t make getting him to stop into an ongoing, emotionally charged battle. Not only is that counterproductive, but it can also affect the rest of your relationship with your child.”
2. Use positive reinforcement. Focus on the times when your child is not engaged in the bad habit. Praise them for not doing their bad habit. Use star charts or treats so that your child can see their progress. Sometimes your child’s behavior will stop when you find the right incentive. My sister stopped biting her nails when she realized that the only way she would have long beautiful nails like her friend was to stop biting them.
3. Be aware of situations that trigger your child’s bad habit. Most children engage in bad habits when they are bored, stressed, or tired. When your child is bored distract them with something else. If you know your child is facing a stressful situation talk about coping methods and help relieve their anxiety. Let your child realize that you are willing to listen. At nighttime provide a stuffed animal or blanket that your child can cuddle with.
4. Help your child redirect their bad habit. Dr. Watson, professor of psychology at Mississippi State University suggests parents tell their child, “I know it’s going to sound weird, but I’d like you to twist your hair in front of the mirror. I want you to think about how your hand feels when you’re twisting your hair. Then next time you notice that your hand feels that way, I want you to immediately drop your hair and make a butterfly with your hands instead.”
5. Be patient. As children mature acceptable habits will no longer be acceptable by their peers. As a result many children will stop bad habits on their own. Children will learn other ways to deal with the stress in their lives and their previous bad habits will be dropped.
This article has some more specific ideas on how to help your child break bad habits.