It is normal for children to become so focused on certain things that they almost seem obsessed with.
A habit is a behaviour that children do over and over again, almost without thinking. Children’s habits are usually nothing to worry about, as some of them are natural, healthy part of growing up, but if they start to interfere with a child’s life or cause distress or harm on them, they can be classed as compulsive.
What is Compulsive Habits?
These habits can occur at any age. They reflect a change in your child’s life that confuses or scares them and makes them want to regain control
Some Common Habits among children are:
• Nail Biting
Nail biting or picking is one of the most common childhood habits. It can be unsightly, annoying and even problematic for your little one’s health. Your child may bite his nails for any number of reasons – curiosity, boredom, stress relief, nervous, habit, or imitation. Sometimes, nail biting could negatively affect your child’s social relationships or interfere with their daily life.
• Thumb Sucking
Thumb sucking is a natural reflex for children, as it helps them making feel secure and safe. It’s totally normal and safe for your child to suck on their thumb, depending on their age and the intensity of their habit. Adults may suck their thumbs as a response to stress or anxiety and could also be a response to trauma.
• Nose Picking
Nose picking is a curious habit, and a common practice that has many potential causes. Children are notorious for pecking at their nostrils. Often, it’s because mucus or boogers in their noses are irritating. Still, in other cases, nose picking is simply an activity for curious or bored children.
• Chewing Objects
Each child is unique and has their own reason for chewing. When a child is chewing it can be for a number of different reasons like boredom, concentration, stress or anxiety. Some rather chewing inedible objects such as clothing, pens and toys that gives them comfort.
• Hair Twirling or Tugging
Children, may twirl their hair as a way of self-soothing to calm anxiety, wind down before bedtime, or simply deal with boredom. The habit of twirling your hair can simply be a nervous habit, but there are times that it can be a sign of an underlying health condition.
• Teeth Grinding
Tooth grinding, also called “bruxism”, is the conscious or unconscious grinding or clenching of teeth and mostly common, particularly in toddlers and preschoolers. Some causes of tooth grinding include pain from an ear infection or teething and improper alignment of the teeth. But sometimes children will grind their teeth during the day when they feel anxious.
• Skin Picking
Skin-picking, also called “excoriation”, is a mental health condition that can cause children to pick at their skin constantly. Skin picking tends to emerge at puberty and often parents see skin picking as just a bad habit. There’s tremendous shame associated with skin picking because it results in scarring or other kinds of visible damage to the skin, particularly the face, that make the teen extremely self-conscious.
Children are all very similar in the way they choose these habits. They’re simply finding ways to soothe themselves, while also exploring new things around them. Habits may no longer be a simple habit if it negatively affects a child’s social relationships or interferes with their life activities. Habits are difficult to break, but it’s not impossible.
