Is every day a real nail-biter for your children? Believe it or not, nail biting is a common habit among children. According to kidshealth.org, studies estimate that up to 60 percent of kids and teens nibble their nails down to the nubs. And while it may seem harmless, the reality is that the hand-to-mouth habit not only exposes your child to germs, but it also can contribute to infections. Oftentimes, children break the skin, germs get in there and it causes infections. There are a few ways to derail this practice. For starters, sit your child down and explain why nail biting is unhealthy. Try not to scold. Relay your message in a matter-of-fact tone so as not to make it a hostile situation for your child. Believe it or not, criticizing your child can actually make matters worse. Keep the nails clipped back and painted. Make your child's fingers a source of pride. Create an incentive.
A compelling reward provides positive reinforcement. Find something she really wants and set up a rewards program to get her to her goal while breaking the bad habit. Also use praise to point out how proud you are of her efforts. When your child goes to bite her nails, redirect her to do something else with her hands. Suggest she wiggle her fingers. Find a distraction that works and use it. When all else fails, resort to special polishes that act as a deterrent for nail biters. These usually have a bitter taste and dissuade the child from nail biting. Remember, it's important to get to the root of the problem. Talk to your child and find out if something is stressing him out or making him feel insecure. Then work to eliminate the issue. Nail biting might just be a symptom of a bigger problem.