Why do children bite their nails: causes, possible problems and advice from psychologists

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Many parents wonder why children bite their nails. This problem seems intractable, especially when it comes to understanding that simple persuasion does not help. The child acts as if on purpose, contrary to everything that is told to him. Behavior from the outside looks unambiguous and characterizes the child as a sloppy and irresponsible individual.

Nail biting is considered bad manners. Meanwhile, adults should show some wisdom. Realizing that the problem never appears on its own, for no apparent reason, you can come closer to resolving an unsatisfactory situation. When thinking about why a child bites his nails, you can't just blame him for everything. Usually, this is fixable. It is only necessary to understand where the origins of the mostproblems.

Reasons

Unwanted behavior of the baby, as a rule, is formed regardless of the wishes of the parents. No matter how the father and mother ask the child not to do this, he does not stop putting his fingers in his mouth. In some cases, such actions occur completely unconsciously, even, it would seem, without any reason. Consider the reasons why children bite their nails. They should definitely be taken into account if there is a desire to correct the situation.

Stress relief

The most commonplace reason that is often overlooked. The fact is that everyday stress tends to accumulate, aggravated over time. A child may experience many emotional upheavals during the day. Misunderstanding of adults, negative situations in kindergarten, quarrels with friends - all this leaves an imprint on the nervous system.

In many cases, children do not even say anything to adults, because they simply do not know how to express their feelings. Nervous biting of nails helps to relieve tension. As a result, the hands begin to look sloppy and untidy. The appearance shows some slovenliness.

Lower self-esteem

If a child bites his nails, perhaps he feels inferior to others in some way. The kid, due to his age, may not voice his fears, not share his fears with others. But this does not mean that he does not worry and does not suffer. Low self-esteem contributes to the growth of anxiety, drives into a state of indifference andapathy.

In most cases, you will need the help of a good specialist in order to correct the situation. This question can be answered in psychology. Why children bite their fingernails is discussed in detail there. Low self-esteem needs to be de alt with. Otherwise, the problem will only grow in size over time, creating more and more obstacles on the way to self-realization.

Early weaning

No matter how strange and wild it may sound, but this factor also takes place. Sometimes early weaning contributes to the appearance of such an undesirable effect. The fact is that a small child really needs physical contact with his mother. For him, the chest is a source of not only (and not so much) nutrition, but also spiritual warmth. When we lack attention and love for the little one, the child tries to compensate for the lack in such a strange way. When a 3-year-old child bites his fingernails, you need to ask yourself how long you breastfed him. Perhaps you didn't manage to pamper him longer?

Imitation

It is not uncommon to notice that children are trying their best to copy each other. Imitation is especially active between the ages of four and seven. If someone in the kindergarten group has a bad habit of biting their nails, the rest of the children will definitely do the same. This is because they have a need to do the same.

Heredity

This is not about the fact that the very fact of biting nails can be transmitted from close and distant ancestors. Such a development of events is unlikely, although it cannot be completely ruled out. But by inheritance, any nervous diseases pass well. And they, in turn, can provoke the appearance of this problem. If you are looking for a reason why a child bites his nails for a long time, pay close attention to heredity. Perhaps someone in the family had characteristic diseases.

Nail problems

Sometimes the solution to a problem literally lies on the surface. The child constantly gnaws his nails, because their appearance gives him a certain discomfort. Subconsciously, he seeks to get rid of the problem that worries him. It is unlikely that a child will do something just like that. It is necessary to check if there are any local he alth problems. This is the only way to understand the reasons for what is happening.

Brittle nails are a significant inconvenience, even more than you might imagine. They require special care, which the child, due to his small age, cannot provide for himself. This helps to understand why children bite their fingernails. If some problem causes expressed anxiety, then the little person, one way or another, realizes that he cannot solve it on his own. Therefore, he begins to fight her in a way that is accessible to him, which adults do not always like.

Possible problems

When trying to understand a particular situation, it is necessary to take into account those points that can complicate the situation. Usually they go in combination with each other, but sometimes they canmanifest on its own. So why do kids bite their fingernails?

High anxiety

When a child constantly worries about any adverse events in the family, his inner tension grows. Gradually, this condition leads to neurosis. A high degree of anxiety makes it impossible to feel happy, to express yourself in the world.

Such a child suffers greatly, and parents sometimes do not notice it at all. It is not uncommon that, for example, a 4-year-old child bites his nails, and the father and mother pay little attention to what is happening to him. Sometimes adults write off some manifestations of trouble for ordinary whims. Not everyone shows sufficient consideration for their own son or daughter.

Neurosis

A very good reason why children bite their fingernails. Neurosis can develop against the background of strong experiences. For example, if the desires of a child are not satisfied, then he can withdraw into himself, stop noticing his desires and needs. Similar situations occur when parents divorce and the family breaks up. Such manifestations cannot be ignored. Signs of neurosis can be very noticeable or be hidden from others.

Advice from psychologists

Sooner or later, any parent who wants well for their children will think: how can you help your child? How to wean a child to bite his nails on his hands and at the same time not make him suffer additionally? You need to act as gently as possible, but at the same time be sureshow persistence. I would like to immediately warn adults: in no case should you scold your son or daughter or beat them on the hands. Such actions can only achieve the opposite effect. Let's take a closer look at effective methods.

Accent switching

This is the first place to start if you are faced with the need to correct unwanted behavior. The child is still too young to understand the essence of what is happening. Take your time, but try to slowly switch his attention. As soon as you notice that he began to behave inappropriately, invite him to drink tea or watch a cartoon together. At these moments, try to focus less on the fact that he does something differently than you would like.

Let addiction happen gradually, without unnecessary jumps. Children are very sensitive to the mood of adults, so they must be treated as carefully as possible. Switching attention will work in any case, even for a short time. The child will be able to experience some pleasant emotions and not dwell on something negative all the time.

Attention Enough

Children always want to feel that their parents care about them. And this is a completely understandable, understandable desire, supported by an internal need. Who, if not close people, will always be able to support and guide us? The child should try to give enough time so that he can feel confident. It is advisable to constantly be interested in how the day went, what thoughts worried him. When father and motherbusy only solving personal problems, the child inevitably begins to suffer. In fact, no one likes to feel unwanted and rejected. Every person strives to gain understanding, even if he is the smallest. Giving enough time and attention to your son or daughter, you help the child to increase self-esteem, love and accept himself. This is a very valuable acquisition that cannot simply come by itself.

Good habit

You can offer the girl to paint her nails. Then with one hundred percent probability she will stop spoiling them. You will simply feel sorry for your own work, because even a baby of 4-5 years old is able to appreciate it. A new he althy habit will help you overcome existing fears, start feeling more beautiful and attractive. In most cases, this will help get rid of obsessive behavior, when the child constantly puts his fingers in his mouth and no persuasion works. It should be noted that a good habit is formed after some time. It is extremely unreasonable to wait for the result immediately after the first steps have been taken. Let the child come to his senses, to establish himself in his behavior. It should be noted that this method is applicable only to girls. In any case, the boy will have to look for a different approach.

Releasing inhibitions

Thinking about how to wean a child from biting his nails, it is useful to remember that when a person is put any restrictions, he begins to show a protest reaction. No one likes to be imposed on him, to be dictated to a certain behavior. The child is more likely to behavethe same way. Any prohibitions fetter, make you feel infringed, incapable of independent actions. Even if your offspring is still very small, the need for self-expression still lives in it. There is nothing more stupid than forbidding your child to know himself and the world around him.

When a child has additional opportunities for self-expression, the bad habit will also go away. After all, you no longer have to worry about certain events that previously created discord in the soul. Letting go is an important step. When a parent helps the child in every possible way to get rid of many constraints and experiences, there is more energy for self-realization. In this case, not only bad habits will be left behind, but also all sorts of obstacles.

Emotional return

In order for a child to release his feelings as much as possible, it is worth teaching him not to be afraid to reveal his everyday feelings. To be truly happy, fully realizing his infinite essence, is the number one task that must be put before him. You need to stop hushing up problems, and try to solve them as they come up. In this case, there are more reasons to rejoice. If parents are sincerely interested in the events taking place with the child, then it will be much easier for him to form a basic trust in the world. The habit of biting nails will gradually disappear by itself, as if it had never existed before. The more emotional return from loved ones, the more tangible the result.

So very seriousthere may be a problem when the child bites his nails. The advice of a psychologist will come in handy if the parents are really concerned about this issue and want to take appropriate action. You can’t put pressure on the baby, just demand from him that he give up a bad habit. This can hurt him even more, make him stop trusting you. Any correction should be started gradually, but in the process, always try to bring it to the end. The most important thing is the formation of self-confidence, self-esteem. Only in this case, qualitative personal growth will become possible in the future.