N6 Educational Psychology 2 Skip the advice!
If you do decide to end your kid’s love affair with his thumb, don’t bother with “remedies” such as putting vinegar or other bitter-tasting liquids on the thumb, which may make the child feel like he’s being punished. Avoid using topical aids found at the pharmacy, which can be ineffective and possibly harmful.
3 Avoid stressful times
If there have been some big changes at home, like the arrival of a new sibling or a move to a new house or neighbourhood, don’t try to stop the thumb-sucking. At a time when your child is experiencing stress or anxiety, trying to introduce another change, like weaning her off thumb- sucking, may be more difficult.
Your toddler may cling to her thumb even more as a source of comfort. Instead, if your child has been through a recent stressful event, wait at least a few months before trying to stop her thumb- sucking.
4 Use a substitute
Thumb-sucking is usually a child’s way of self-soothing, so an alternative is to give him another, such as a blanket or small stuffed toy. This can provide the temporary comfort that he’s seeking. Although this means your child may become too attached to the object, the good news is that giving up a blanket/ toy later will be easier than getting rid of the thumb dependency.
5 Use positive reinforcement
Don’t embarrass or bug your child every time you see the thumb inching toward the mouth. The bigger the deal you make of it, the more he may be driven to rely on it. Instead, focus more on when he’s not sucking his thumb. Praise him and offer small rewards for the efforts.
5.8 Sleeping problems
Children and adolescents need at least nine hours of sleep per night. Sleep problems and a lack of sleep can have negative effects on children’s performance in school, during extracurricular activities, and in social relationships.
A lack of sleep may cause:
• accidents and injuries • behaviour problems • mood problems • memory, concentration, and learning problems • performance problems • slower reaction times.
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