5 Common Bad Habits in Children and how to Break Them: Tips for Parents

It can be difficult for parents to realize that their kids are developing bad habits (of kids) and it’s showing through in their personalities.  Parents should to do something to help their children improve their habits.

Before we get into that, we need to understand how positive and negative habits are formed, what they mean for children and how to break kids' bad habits. Let's sort it out right here.

What causes bad habits in kids

Bad habits can be formed in multiple ways. One big cause is when children lack the attention from the adults in their lives. When mom and dad are actively involved in their child’s life, they help him, spend time with him and include him in family activities, then he will not have time or desire to do wrong things.

If a child doesn’t get his attention from positive sources, he will engage in destructive behavior in  an attempt to express himself and attract attention.   Another cause of bad habits in children can be mental or physical problems, boredom, emotional turmoil, lack of education,   and inferior role models.

Negative peer influence is also a major contributor to bad habits in children, especially if the child has low self-esteem and a strong need for connection or authority.

Bad habits in children or unwanted behavior

Parents can determine whether a certain negative behavior is a one-time occurrence or if it has become a habit, by observing how often the behavior occurs. The behavior has most probably become a habit if it is repeated regularly and becomes more frequent over time.

For example, if a child has been biting his nails for a day or two, it is too early to talk about a bad habit. Perhaps it may help the child stop when he understands why this is unhygienic.  When explanations don’t help, and the child continues to bite his nails systematically, a habit has been formed and will need more intervention to help the child stop.

5 bad habits for kids

List of common bad habits for kids and teenagers are:

1. Biting nails or pens, sucking a finger, chewing on clothes or objects

These behaviors are popular habits that children use to help them cope with anxiety or stress. These habits can provide a sense of comfort and distraction from their worries.  While this habit affects about 40% of children and adolescents, most children will outgrow this habit, with just 15% of adults still chewing on their pens or nails. However, it is important to find healthy ways to express anxiety or stress so as not to form new bad habits when nail-biting is outgrown. 

2. Snitching 

It is not uncommon for children, mainly of primary school age, to engage in a behavior known as snitching, or telling an authority figure about someone else’s behavior. They may not fully understand the concept of right from wrong and may simply be reacting to their own feelings of discomfort or unease in a situation. It may be helpful for adults to teach kids how to process their feelings and express their concerns without creating conflict with others.

3. They love fast food and junk food

Kids of all ages usually prefer eating fast food and junk food over healthier options. It is important to teach children healthy eating habits is and exposing them to a variety of healthy food options.   Many parents struggle with this, however, if you model healthy eating habits at home,    you should not worry when your child prefers French fries over oatmeal. It can take time for kids to develop a taste for healthier foods.    

4. Persistent rudeness, fights, or aggression

These behaviors can be caused by a variety of factors, including mental and behavioral disorders, developmental delays, and other underlying issues. However, it is important to observe the role of habit and learned behavior in these actions. Children may engage in rudeness, fighting or aggression as a way to cope with a difficult situation, or they may have not learned more appropriate ways to handle conflict or express themselves better. 

5. Smoking, alcohol, or drugs

Unfortunately, it’s become common for teenagers to experiment with tobacco, alcohol and drugs, despite the challenges often involved in obtaining them. Peer pressure, as well as a lack of understanding of the risks and consequences of using these substances are some of the factors that contribute to its prevalent usage in teens. Simply providing information may not be enough to prevent teenagers from engaging in these behaviors. Other strategies, such as providing teens with positive alternatives and teaching them coping skills may prove more affective. 

How to break kids bad habits

Ok, so now that we are aware of some of the bad habits kids can have, we ask how to break kids' bad habits? We need to understand why it happens in order to determine which method will be most effective in eliminating the habit.

After the cause and triggers have been identified, the following steps should be taken:

• Tell your child about the harm that his bad habit is causing. Look for videos on this topic, talk to a specialist, a teacher or other competent person who is aware of the issue. Information about the harm should be presented carefully, without unnecessarily scaring your child.

• Form an informed approach to your health when it comes to alcohol, smoking, etc. Tell your child and demonstrate how you can enjoy life and have friends without it.

• Find authorities for your child which are not from his inner circle. This may be a sports coach, an older friend or relative. It is necessary that he is credible and your child can trust him enough to have a conversation about bad habits in kids.

• Provide your child with positive activities and experiences in order to guide his attention to happy and productive thoughts. For example, sign him up for some interesting training, children's camp, charity work or volunteer work.

• Do not scold, humiliate or intimidate your child. Do not deprive your child of support and understanding. Always remember that the worst position in the struggle against bad habits in kids is to estrange yourself to your child. You must stay on the same team and overcome the challenge together. 

• Show understanding and acceptance. Do not try to manipulate your child or threaten him, like saying: "If you do not stop doing this, then." This will make your child want to distance himself from you, and you may lose the opportunity to help him. Work on self-control. Remove anything from the child’s environment that makes him behave in negative behaviors.   This will help kids and parents stay in a healthy and productive environment. Discover and analyze the situation that triggers a stress response in your child / teen Wherever bad habits in children are present, it’s usually because of a deeper underlying issue. 

• Learn how to do art or sand therapy. The applied techniques are interesting for all ages. They help to seethe problem from a different angle, and the children learn to express their feelings and concerns.

• In the case where you are completely sure that the bad habit is not a result of an underlying stressor in your child’s life, it may be a good idea to give the child a consequence each time they perform the undesired habit. For example, additional household chores, limiting their screen time or withholding a treat. Always remain kind and gentle.