Bad habits for children are repeated or habitual negative behaviours that are socially unacceptable or inappropriate. Children need to move past these habits to behave more acceptably. Some bad habits might need close attention because they could show deeper problems like stress or anxiety. To help children outgrow these habits, it is better to look at what causes them instead of just the habits themselves.
Here is a list of bad habits examples and tips on how to stop them
Bad habits examples
- Thumb sucking
- Nail Biting
- Lip biting
- Nose picking
- Hair twirling
- Teeth grinding
- Excessive screen time
- Bad eating habits
- Frequent lying
- Using bad words
- Talking back
- Bad table manners
- Uncontrolled anger
- Procrastination
- Complaining
A baby usually starts sucking their thumb shortly after birth, and this habit can last for two to four years. If children keep sucking their fingers after they turn two or three, they may need help. Babies have a natural reflex that makes them put their thumbs or fingers in their mouths.
Prevention
Give rewards when your child stops the habit, if they are old enough to understand. Notice when thumb sucking happens and find other ways to comfort your child to help them stop.
Both kids and adults often bite their nails when they feel stressed. If this habit starts in childhood and is not fixed, it can carry on into adulthood and become a tough habit to break. While the exact reason for nail-biting is not clear, many think it comes from stress and anxiety.
Prevention
Talk to your kids about why nail-biting is not good and encourage them to stop. When they make an effort to quit, give them praise and rewards.
If you often notice your child’s lower lip is chapped or dry, it might be because they have a habit of sucking their lips. This habit can happen for several reasons, like having dry lips, feeling anxious, or having teeth that are not aligned properly. When their lips are dry, kids may lick or suck on them to make them wet.
Prevention
Use lip balm or petroleum jelly to help with dry, chapped lips. If they are stressed and biting their lips, comfort them and help shift their focus. Remind them to drink more water to keep their lips moist. Offer sugar-free candies to keep them from sucking on their lips.
Many children, no matter their age, often pick their noses. They might do this because of mucus or simply because they are bored. While nose-picking is looked down upon socially, it can also lead to nosebleeds or bring germs into the nose.
Prevention
For older kids, kindly explain that picking their nose in public is not a good look. Suggest they use a tissue instead. Whenever you catch them doing it, remind them to wash their hands. If their nose seems dry, use saline drops, a humidifier, or nasal gel to keep it moist. Keep them engaged with arts and crafts to keep their hands busy.
Hair twirling is not very common, but some children do it when they feel stressed or bored. You might see this behaviour just before bedtime, as they are trying to relax. This habit is often seen in toddlers around three years old and usually goes away by age four.
Prevention
If your child has long hair, it might make the habit harder to break. A nice short haircut could help. Have a conversation with them to encourage them to stop. If the habit is due to stress, focus on solving the stress first instead of just the habit.
The Nemours Foundation states that about two to three out of every ten children grind their teeth or clench their jaws. This condition, known as bruxism, usually occurs when kids are in deep sleep or feeling stressed. Other causes can include teething, teeth misalignment, and pain. Most children stop this habit after losing their baby teeth, but some may continue it into their teenage years.
Prevention
Have a conversation with your child about what is bothering them and help them cope. Sometimes, visiting the dentist can be beneficial. If your child grinds their teeth at night, help them relax before bed with a warm bath or by reading a story.
Kids often copy adults, so when we spend too much time on our smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other devices, they are likely to adopt that behaviour too.
Prevention
Make sure your kids use smart devices just for learning. Keep them occupied with other enjoyable activities to reduce their desire for smartphones. Have conversations with them and establish boundaries. Be a good role model by limiting your phone use around your children.
Poor eating habits can include not having balanced meals, eating too many sweets like chocolates and ice cream, relying on junk food, and missing breakfast. Regularly eating unhealthy junk food can cause health issues, like obesity, starting at a young age.
Prevention
Encourage physical activity to help them burn calories and feel more hungry. Set regular meal times to help them get used to eating at certain times.
Kids often lie, whether it is a younger child saying they did not kick their older sibling or an older child talking about homework. If you notice a sudden change in their behaviour, it can be worrying. But if you figure out why they are acting this way, you can address it before it leads to bigger problems.
Prevention
If your child shares exaggerated stories for attention, it is best to overlook those talks rather than challenge them. By ignoring this behaviour, they will realise you do not take their words seriously. If they lie to escape responsibilities, remind them there will be gentle consequences, like doing chores or having less screen time. If their lies come from fear, focus on addressing that fear first, and the lying will likely decrease on its own.
Kids often start using bad words after they go to school. You may be curious about where they hear these words. As they meet new friends and people, it is normal for them to pick up these negative behaviours.
Prevention
Do not worry if you hear your child say a bad word for the first time. Just try to overlook it at first. If it happens again, stay cool and have a chat with them. Explain that using those words is not okay.
This behaviour often appears as your child matures and begins to feel more independent. When they sense this independence, they may think they know it all, leading them to react aggressively to even simple requests. This kind of behaviour can be tough for parents to handle. While it might be frustrating, how you respond will influence the situation, positively or negatively.
Prevention
Avoid shouting when your child responds. Keep your cool and continue the talk in a soft voice. Check-in with your child to see if something is bothering them. You can also pause for a bit to let them think about their behaviour.
Kids sometimes show bad table manners like burping, pretending to vomit, talking with food in their mouths, poking at their food, and chewing with their mouths open. If you notice your child doing these things for fun, it is important to step in and correct them before it becomes a habit.
Prevention
Explain to your kids why these actions are not right and not accepted in society. Encourage them to listen to the adults at the table. Teach them to value and respect food.
Tantrums are normal for kids. They often show this behaviour when they cannot have what they want. Most kids stop having tantrums before starting school, but some may keep having them, which can lead to problems with anger later on.
Prevention
Make sure they understand there will be consequences for their actions. Keep being consistent. Once they realise that this behaviour is not okay, they will start to improve on their own.
Kids often put off their homework or chores. They might not care about the tasks or get distracted by games and other activities. Some kids are just too lazy to finish their work on time. This habit can hurt their school performance and personal development, causing problems later on.
Prevention
Explain to them that delaying tasks is not a good practice and give examples of family members who complete their work promptly. If they seem uninterested, try to make it more fun by including enjoyable activities. Plan their schedule to ensure they do not only play games. Praise them when they finish their work on time.
Kids often whine about many things to skip certain places or people. For example, they might not want to go to school, dislike another child, or refuse to eat a specific food.
Prevention
Give your child time to adjust to a new environment or new people. Help them understand that it is important to behave properly and sometimes they need to make compromises and sacrifices.
