Many kids have habits that can be downright annoying. Four of the most common ones that children develop and parents complain about are:
- nail biting
- thumb sucking
- hair twirling
- nose picking
Although your child's habits may bother or even worry you, relax. In most cases, a habit is just a phase in the normal developmental process and is not cause for alarm.
What's a Habit?
A habit is a pattern of behavior that's repeated, and the person usually isn't even aware of it. Although kids may be blissfully unaware of a habit, their parents aren't so lucky.
And if your little one usually has one hand stuffed in the mouth and the other entwined in the hair, don't be surprised: Habits tend to occur in clusters.
Here's the lowdown on the most common habits among kids and teens:
Nail Biting
If nails chewed to the nub are familiar to you, you're not alone. One of the most common childhood habits is nail biting or picking.
Some studies estimate that 30% to 60% of kids and teens chew on one or more fingernails. And, occasionally, a child may also bite his or her toenails.
Boys and girls appear equally prone to the habit in earlier years; however, as they get older, boys are more likely to be nail biters.
Hair Twirling
If one of your kids is a hair twirler, odds are it's your daughter. The majority of children who twist, stroke, or pull their hair are girls.
Hair twirling may appear in early childhood as a precursor to hair pulling, either with or without hair loss. But many hair twirlers and pullers stop as they get older. For those who don't, simple behavior modification can help them break the habit.
However, for those who start hair pulling as older kids or teens, the habit is harder to break and may be a sign of anxiety,depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
