- 1). Ask your child why she bites her nails. If she is older, she may be able to articulate what triggers her behavior. Maybe it's a nervous twitch, or maybe it's when she feels stressed out.
- 2). Address the root cause of his nail biting. Talk to him regularly about pressures at school, issues in the home or his personal concerns. Make yourself available for talk time and listen while he express his anxieties.
- 3). Encourage her to develop hobbies or participate in sports. She may be seeking stimulation or a creative outlet to release anxieties, so direct her energy into a fun activity.
- 4). Teach your child about breaking habits. Let him know that even adults develop habits and that they are hard, but possible to break. Reassure him that he can stop biting his nails and you will be there to support him.
- 5). Encourage good behavior through positive reinforcement. When you notice your child has been refraining from nail biting, praise her and let her know you're proud of her progress.
- 6). Avoid punishing your child for biting his nails. Reacting negatively will only increase your child's stress levels and alienate him in his struggle.
- 7). Keep your child's nails trimmed short to discourage biting.
- 8). Paint your child's nails with nail polish. Older girls may respond well to seeing their fingernails as pretty. This can help keep them on track to break their habit.
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