Nail Biting

Nail biting is among the most common bad habits that children engage in. Many parents just try telling their child to stop doing it, saying things like: “Don’t bite your nails!” or “Take your fingers out of your mouth”. This direct approach doesn’t always work and may backfire if the child finds well-meant remarks like this annoying.

Growing neat nails

If you have reason to believe that nail biting is occurring, a tried and trusted method that has much in common with the Kids’Skills steps may achieve better results. In this approach, the focus is not on getting your child to stop biting their nails but inviting them to attempt to grow beautiful nails one finger at a time. Allow them to decide which of their ten nails will be first, and propose arranging a small celebration when they have succeeded.

Let your child decide how to celebrate their success. They could, for example, paint the new nail in some way, or cut it in a ceremonial fashion in front of their family, and perhaps even make a video recording of the event.

After succeeding in growing the first nail, your child will probably become spontaneously interested in allowing another one to grow. Encourage them to progress, nail by nail, until they have succeeded in growing all their nails.

When the focus is moved from ending a child’s bad habit to setting small, concrete and achievable goals, success becomes possible and they can feel pride in their achievement. Parents will find helping their children grow beautiful nails much easier than ending the nail-biting habit.

The Kids’Skills Guide offers additional hints on motivating children to learn skills suggested by adults.

This article is owned by: Kids’Skills http://www.kidsskillsapp.com/