Common Childhood Bad Habits Parents Should Break
Raising children is often a process of correcting behaviors. You may try to instill the best behavior in your kids, but, more often than not, your role as a parent is to correct the bad habits that they develop. Though there are countless bad habits a child may pick up, here are a few of the common childhood bad habits parents should break. By reading this article, you may walk away with a better idea of what behaviors to correct and how to correct them.
Nose-Picking
Children may start nose-picking either because of boredom or excessive mucus. Whatever the reason, the habit can cause prolonged issues. Aside from the social stigma associated with nose-picking, children who practice the bad habit might also have more frequent nose bleeds or introduce viruses or bacteria into the nose.
Parents who wish to break this habit in their children can try several tactics. You can instruct them to wash their hands each time they pick their nose. The repetition will dissuade the habit over time. Alternatively, you can keep their hands occupied with arts and crafts.
Thumb-Sucking
You should discourage the common issue of thumb-sucking in children ages three or four. There are several reasons your child should not be sucking their thumb, which only become apparent over time. Poor hygiene, underbites or overbites, and speech impairments are frequent side effects related to thumb-sucking.
Children typically suck their thumbs to relieve stress. If you see your child sucking their thumbs, try to talk to them about the source of their anxiety and see if you can devise a healthier way to cope.
Excessive Screen Time
Unfortunately, excessive screen time is quickly becoming one of the common childhood bad habits parents should break. Too many parents today use smartphones or tablets to calm down a fussy child without realizing how this may impact their development. When children have screens to distract them, they are less interested in their environment. This will hamper their learning.
As a parent, you should make sure your youngest children look at a screen as little as possible. Your older children, ages two to five, should only have an hour of screen time per day.
