What\’s wrong with children who like to bite their fingernails?

According to the daily behavior observation survey data of children and adolescents in my country, the rate of nail biting among children aged 7-10 is about 30%. In fact, in daily life, it is not uncommon for children to bite their nails. Although some parents think that their children\’s behavior of biting nails is very cute and cute, in fact, this should be treated differently according to the situation. If this behavior develops too far in a child, it is likely to develop into a bad habit or be regarded as a dysfunctional behavior, such as onychophagia. Therefore, when a child uncontrollably wants to bite his nails, it is best for parents not to simply regard it as a behavioral preference. Investigating the causes will be more beneficial to the child\’s growth and development. Cheng Cheng is 4 years old this year. Not long ago, Cheng Cheng’s mother just transferred her to a kindergarten closer to her workplace. Cheng Cheng behaved very well in the new kindergarten, which made Cheng Cheng\’s mother relieved. She thought that her daughter would cry and be uncomfortable in the new environment, but she never expected that the little guy would be so obedient and sensible. They lived in peace for a month. One day when Cheng Cheng\’s mother was picking up her daughter from school, the kindergarten teacher stopped the mother and daughter as they were about to leave. \”Cheng Cheng\’s mother, if you are free, let\’s talk!\” Faced with the sudden invitation from the kindergarten teacher, Cheng Cheng\’s mother was a little confused. \”Teacher, did Cheng Cheng get into trouble in the kindergarten?\” The teacher heard this and waved his hand quickly and said, \”No, I found that the child has been biting his nails since he entered kindergarten. I want to know whether this habit has always been with the child. Yes, or is it something new that appeared recently?\” When the teacher said this, Cheng Cheng\’s mother couldn\’t react for a while. She thought about it briefly and said, \”The child didn\’t have this habit before. Although I can\’t say that he doesn\’t bite his nails 100%, the performance is really not obvious.\” When the teacher heard Cheng Cheng\’s mother say this, she then gently pulled Cheng Cheng\’s little Fat Hand said, \”Look, the child\’s fingernails do have signs of biting. I think we should pay attention to this matter.\” \”Biting nails is indeed unhygienic. I will criticize and educate her when I get home!\” Cheng Cheng Mom assured the teacher firmly. The teacher smiled and said, \”Unhygienic is one thing. I think this may be a reaction to the child\’s inner emotions, such as anxiety and lack of security. Cheng Cheng has just transferred to my class, and I am worried that the little guy is It\’s because of the emotional pressure.\” The teacher\’s words awakened Cheng Cheng\’s mother. She always thought that her daughter was obedient, sensible, and adaptable, but she never thought that her children also needed care. Efficient time management is to manage yourself: Training Manual 130 talks about why children like to chew their nails? The reasons are complex. Nail-biting behavior is more common among infants, children, and teenagers. However, when people investigate the root cause, they will find that different children have different triggers for nail-biting behavior. For infants and young children under 1 year old, they are in the oral stage. The so-called oral stage was proposed by psychologist Freud. He believed that at this age, the oral cavity is the main way for children to explore the world. Way. Therefore, the behavior of biting nails is a common behavior during their oral period.One of the performances. Usually as the oral stage transitions, the child\’s nail biting behavior will gradually disappear. However, some children still have the habit of biting their nails even after they have passed the oral stage. So, what is the reason for this situation? One situation is that when the body lacks certain trace elements such as iron, zinc, etc., there will be pica behavior of biting nails. Another situation is that when children have emotional reactions of anxiety, irritability and insecurity, they will choose to bite their nails to relieve this negative emotional reaction. When the inner emotional needs are not responded to and met, the behavioral dependence on nail biting will become more and more intense. Children who always like to bite their nails are likely to avoid the first outcome: affecting physical development. When biting nails, the epidermis of the fingers can easily be bitten and lose protection, which will allow viruses and Bacteria have an opportunity to take advantage of it, and infections such as paronychia can ensue. At the same time, biting your nails can also cause the nails to deform and affect their appearance. When biting nails, the oral cavity will also be affected, such as gum damage, oral inflammation, etc. There are a lot of bacteria hidden in the nails, and frequent nail biting can also lead to \”diseases from the mouth.\” If the nail biting behavior is caused by a lack of trace elements, then if you do not pay attention to the supplement of trace elements for a long time, it will also affect the normal physical development of the child. The second outcome: Emotional disorder occurs. If a child bites his nails because of a poor mental state, parents\’ neglect may lead to the inability to relieve the child\’s bad emotional feelings and eventually form a mental disorder. Studies have shown that most adults who bit their nails as children but did not take it seriously are more likely to develop repetitive tormenting behaviors with the body as the main body, such as skin tearing syndrome. Other studies have shown that children who bite their nails have a higher rate of mental disorders. For example, 21% of children who bite their nails have separation anxiety disorder, and 35% of children have oppositional resistance disorder. . How should parents respond when they discover that their children like to chew their nails? Method 1: Pay attention to the satisfaction of growth needs during the oral period. For infants and young children who are in the oral period, parents should create a clean and safe living environment for them and try their best to satisfy their oral needs. In fact, if a child\’s psychological needs are not properly met during the oral period, these unmet needs are likely to brew into more serious psychological problems during their subsequent growth and development. Tips: Parents must help their babies trim their nails in a timely manner, wash their hands frequently, try to ensure finger hygiene, and avoid harsh reprimands. Method 2: Understand the real causes of the child’s nail biting behavior. If the child develops pica behavior due to a lack of trace elements, then timely supplementation of trace elements is undoubtedly the most appropriate response. If a child bites his nails because he is under great psychological pressure, parents should help the child get out of the emotional whirlpool as soon as possible, pay more attention to his emotional changes, and guide him to get rid of the psychology of biting his nails. rely. Method 3: Find a suitable alternative behavior parentMothers can help their children find appropriate ways to relieve their emotions in life, such as doing more outdoor sports. Use alternative behaviors to help the child divert his attention and guide him to subconsciously forget the emotional comfort brought by biting his nails. In addition, if the child has a psychological effect of insecurity due to insufficient companionship, then the companionship of parents will naturally be the best way to heal. The foundation of a family, Russell said, is based on the special affection parents have for their children. Therefore, when parents find that their children have some bad habits, they must get to the bottom of it and try their best to find ways to help them get rid of bad habits.