Archive for the ‘Child care’ Category
Easy ways to handle Children’s annoying habits
Parenting is the most wonderful thing on earth, and of course parenting also gives you jitters when it comes to your child’s well being. The latter part almost becomes the most intriguing part of your life. So let us consider what can make parenting the easiest task for you. Anyhow, ‘Patience’ is the byword for happy parenting.
Let us start with the habits children develop as toddlers
Here is a common instance:
“Ever since she was in her mother’s womb, Taylor began the habit of sucking her thumb. Unlike her twin sister Alexis, who sucked on a pacifier to console herself, Taylor continued to use her thumb as her natural pacifier. Now, at age 4, Taylor still sucks her thumb. Is her Mommy worried? ‘No,’ says the twins’ mother Stephanie. ‘I know she’ll grow out of it.’”
Mother’s reaction in the above incident might surprise you, but it is the right approach. Specialists say habits that toddlers develop are self-soothing habits that fade as time passes. Be it nail biting, hair twirling and blanket toting, all habits are annoying but not necessarily troublesome. Certain habits like staring and rocking back and forth are many times unconsciously done.
Dr. Deborah Pearson, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, says:
“Young children’s self-soothing habits go away in time. Most children go through these behaviors as part of normal development. Toddlers are developing their personalities, and this is part of that process.”
Why Toddlers develop habits?
The reason why children develop annoying habits is their continuous need to deal with stressful situations - for instance attending school or an unpleasant event in their life.
The habit makes the child feel better for no apparent reason. It calms them when they are panicked. Children also develop these habits to relieve themselves from boredom.
One very important thing one, as a parent, should understand is that these are quite healthy and are the ways for the child to cope independently with life.
How can a parent deal with children’s habits?
Pearson says children usually kick their habit by age 4 when they feel safer in the world. But parents have to help them get over their habits by realizing their need and making them more comfortable.
Follow the tips to communicate your intention to them:
‘Be Patient’ and just ignore it.
Do not shame your child for his/her habit. It might extend the issue to unwanted levels and cause more harm than good.
Punishments, harsh words, teasing and punitive measures upset the child. Stop such measures because the child should feel safe and comfortable to leave the self-soothing habit, and harshness doesn’t communicate comfort.
What will cure the habits?
Peer pressure helps the child get rid of all the self-soothing habits. Pearson says most childhood behaviors, if not gone by age 4, vanish by the time the child leaves elementary school.
“When children are with their peers, they get feedback and eventually get weaned off,” says Pearson, “So don’t expect your teenager to go to the junior prom sucking his thumb. He will stop. However, parents should prefer that the behavior stops before peer pressure becomes another issue.”
If the habits extremely out of control or prolong longer than expected then medical assistance should be taken.
But even then, as the doctor says:
“Give your child loving attention and do whatever else you can to make your child’s life less stressful. That’s a good habit for all of us to have.”
Maintain a pleasant atmosphere for your child and the baby will grow into a wonderful person even before you realize how it happened!