Nail-biting habit

Nail biting occurs in various situations associated with anxiety and hostility. This habis is emerging as a way to reduce stress and making the child in question have something to do when feeling tense or anxious.

Nail biting is a continuation of thumbsucking.

Nail biting is common among children, but the frequency will decrease with increasing age. There're times when the small child's habit last into adulthood. There're also that the whole family has the habit.

In children under 3, thumbsucking will disappear and be replaced with nail biting. The frequency increases until the age of 6, and some continues until 13.

Nail biting indicates a preserved, strengthened, maintained habit of inability to adjusting because it can reduce tension. The habit can give satisfaction when the child ain't doing anything. Generally, nail biting is an expression of the tension generated by the anticipation of difficulties at school, your punishments or any other anxieties.

Children that bite nails are more common in households that fall apart or have tense atmospheres.

Not much attention is given to overcome the nail-biting habit. Clearly, prohibition, giving bitter substances to the nails, threats and punishments generally don't give a lot of results.

Helping children find themselves more capable and secure, especially if they're having a very difficult, pressing time, can prevent the initial development of this habit. The main handling is to find and to address the tension causes that produce the nail-biting habit.

Various behavioral therapies such as persuading children, especially girls, usually work well.

Other countermeasures are to busy children with various games and toys and to get along with others in a healthy way.

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