The Most Common Bad Habits In Young Children – Parenthood
The child imitates the behaviors of others he meets. If the people he spends a lot of time with have inadequate habits, he naturally acquires them too. This is a very important aspect that should be taken into account when correcting bad habits in young children.
How to create a habit?
Habits are created through repeated behavior unconsciously. Some bad habits in young children can be caused by a physical or psychological problem. In these cases, they become obsessive behaviors and must be treated by doctors and psychologists in order to prevent them from becoming chronic.
Bad habits in young children
Some of the bad habits in young children have a direct impact on health. Others harm interpersonal relationships and cohabitation. The truth is that they must be corrected early so that they do not become permanently embedded in the child.
1.- An unhealthy diet
Consuming junk food is a common habit these days. Indeed, there are children who just want to eat this type of food. The consequences of this habit are obesity and childhood hypertension, among others.
To correct this, menus should be prepared including a variety of foods that are visually appealing to the child. If he does not like a food, it can be replaced by another from the same group. That the child intervenes in the development of the menu will promote its acceptance.
2.- Eat in front of the television
Studies show that eating while watching TV is one of the factors that affect being overweight. The child’s brain, focused on the television, does not recognize the signal that he has eaten enough and eats more than necessary. Mealtime should be a time when family members communicate with each other and tell each other about the day.
3.- The use of “bad words” and rude answers
As mentioned earlier, the child imitates what he sees. If in the house people living with him treat each other badly or use inappropriate vocabulary, the child will acquire this habit and it will be difficult to correct it. When he leaves home, he will also manifest it with the teachers and other adults. The behavior modification task should start with a good example from adults.
4.- PC, video games and television
Screens and technology; more than a habit it has now become an addiction. In fact, it can be detrimental to health, as children often do not want to go out and play because they are trapped in technology. In addition, it causes sleep disturbances and impairs their social development.
Often the child does not complete his school homework because of this bad habit. To correct it, it is necessary to establish routines and schedules in which the child does not stay more than two hours in front of a screen.
Addiction to technology is a very common habit among nervous, worried and anxious children. Children who have it can injure their fingers, causing bleeding and infection. If this behavior tends to increase, you should see a doctor.
5.- Sucking his thumb or playing in his nose
Sometimes the thumb becomes a substitute for the pacifier. It’s a bad habit that starts in childhood and usually goes away naturally. If this lasts, it is advisable to consult a specialist in order to avoid oral problems.
In addition, having your finger in your nose is another nasty habit that needs to be corrected. Many times the toddler does this unconsciously, which can cause nosebleeds. Making the child aware every moment that he has his finger in his nose is the way to stop this behavior.
6. – Go to bed late
Children need 11-13 hours of sleep, with slight variations depending on age. If they don’t get enough sleep, they will be irritable, distracted, listless and tired. Likewise, it can cause a certain deficit of memory and the skill of reasoning.
Getting little sleep also causes hormonal imbalances. Setting a reasonable time to go to sleep and maintaining the routine without exception is the way to change this habit. Eating dinner early and helping them fall asleep by reading a story, for example, can be the way to start a new habit.
7.- Not having adequate hygiene
Hygiene is fundamental for health and social life. There are children who resist daily bathing and brushing their teeth after every meal. And this resistance can eventually become a bad habit. Frequent hand washing, daily bathing and tooth brushing are habits that must be enforced. The example of parents is essential for the pedagogy of children.
