"Neha is now in the ninth grade, she bites her nails when anxiety strikes on. Exams make her more tense and anxious. Her parents ignored this habit early as they thought it would go away as she grows up. This behavior comes as the reason for teasing between friends, scolds from teachers, and mocks from many."

Do any known faces come to your mind? It can be your kid's! To change bad habits in your kid, conscious efforts are to be implemented early. There are certain ways considered to be successful and less stressful in tackling such problems in your tots. Most of the odd or awkward behaviors completely go away when they grow up. Do not yell or insult them in public, instead, advise, understand, and correct it intentionally.

Some parents don't address the issue and are left with no importance. Such an act is also not encouraged. This may lead to continuing such behaviors for a long. If you feel this habit will get worsened shortly you may find ways to control, from childhood itself.

Let us see some efforts to improve them,

Know your kid

Try to understand the nasty habit first. Before turning to anger, search for the cause. If they perform things like nail biting, it can be a part of their stress management or nose picking can be part of an unpleasant nasal cavity and germs. Understand the consequences of such bad habits and deviate from such acts. Talk to them calmly, explain the irritation caused by such behaviors and constantly correct it till they change with patience and love.

Observe and bring the right change

Wait before you burst at your kid, only you can make them aware, advise and distract them from odd activities. Tackle this problem as a team, here your kid needs your directions and efforts to change it. Use any code or secret gesture to distract from the bad behavior in public instead of insulting them. Only change it after understanding the root cause and explaining the negative effects.

Compliment the good habits

Do not miss out to appreciate on the good things or acts they have done. This boosts the confidence to do pleasant things. In the same way, show disappointment in the unacceptable behaviors from them and convey the reasons. This is a powerful way to curb their bad habits and accelerate more good deeds. Also, this would help in differentiating bad and positive things in them. If possible, a star chart can be kept providing rewards for good deeds.

Ascertain rules to set before them

You have to set rules and limits to everything in your kid. They are not grown-ups and placing valuable rules would guide them in the right way. If your child finds it funny in telling lies or insulting friends or family in public, you have to change it, or else they would continue this practice. Tell them it is not socially acceptable behavior and to be polite and well-mannered in your words and deeds. Do not encourage them but show your reluctance to such an attitude, then they will change it gradually.

Mitigate the stubbornness in them

Some kids may show stubbornness in every matter concerning. They develop such behavior from the influence of parents and other elders. In the beginning, we consider it slightly and allow them to be cute this way. As they grow up, this will also get along with them and turns into arrogant behavior. Do not allow all the things and matters they demand. Control their anger and make them understand things you won't allow.

Tackle one at a time

If your child is exhibiting a few bad habits, do not compel to stop it at a time. Give time and make it change one by one. The worse one should be given prior importance to change. After that go on with others each at a time. Trying to solve everything would end up in mess. This makes them tenser and more confused to act properly. So, tackle it smartly.

Don't punish and shame

If you punish your kid in public, they feel ashamed and get disappointed in your act. Correct them alone and do not harm their self-esteem or ego. Let them understand your disagreement and upset as punishment and change it slowly.

Say no to telling lies

Telling lies would be funny as a kid. Parents also enjoy this in beginning and find it to be cute. In some kids, as they grew elder this would become a habit and they show a character of hiding everything from you. Tackle it early and teach them values like honesty, trust, and truthfulness.

*Image credits: freepik.com