By Sarah Chana Radcliffe
How do you get a child to stop a bad habit?
How do you help a child with a bad habit, without nagging him about it all day? "Stop biting your nails!" "Take your finger out of your nose!" "Stop making that squeaking sound!" Bad habits disturb others, particularly parents. It's natural to comment every time one occurs. But anyone who's done this knows that it provides no cure and it creates its own problems. Sometimes a habit is actually a tic disorder (a neurological issue). You can check that out with your pediatrician. (I find that Bach Flower Therapy is really effective for that). Sometimes it is literally a "nervous habit" (a superficial emotional issue). Enlist the help of a child psychologist - the right intervention can often put a quick end to a bad habit.
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Your child "hates" the dinner you're serving tonight...
When your child complains about your food, try not to take it personally. Just teach him how to express displeasure with tact and sensitivity. Instead of letting him say things like "Yech...I hate meatballs!" guide him to say something like "Mom, would it be okay if I have something instead of the meatballs?" Simply ask him to repeat his request in the better style and then "reward" him: "You asked that so respectfully! Yes, of course - you can have the tuna patties instead if you like."
