Many kids have habits that can be downright annoying. Four of the most common are:
- nail biting
- hair twirling
- nose picking
- thumb sucking
Although these 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 child doing it usually isn't even aware of it. But while 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 happen 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. Nail biting or picking is one of the most common childhood habits. An estimated 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. Most kids 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).
Nose Picking
Nose picking appears to be a habit that, although it usually begins in childhood, may actually linger into adulthood. If you find that hard to believe, consider that a 1995 study of adults found that 91% picked their noses regularly — and about 8% of them reported that they eat what they pick!
Thumb Sucking
Kids' preference for thumbs as the finger to suck is thought to be the result of the thumb coming into contact with the mouth during movements they made an infants. Some kids also suck their fingers, hands, or their entire fists in addition to, or instead of, their thumbs.
Most thumb suckers are younger kids and up to half of 2- to 4-year-olds suck their thumbs. Many kids suck their thumbs to calm and comfort themselves. But frequent or intense thumb sucking beyond 4 to 5 years of age can cause problems, including dental issues (such as an overbite), thumb or finger infections, and being teased.