Open communication is key to helping your child break their thumb-sucking habit. Scolding them can reverse the progress and make thumb sucking more intense.
Often enough, if the parents neglect or stop giving attention to their child's thumb-sucking habits, their kid will stop the habit by themselves. You can also visit amazon.co.uk/Age-2-7-Stop-Thumb-Sucking/dp/B00VQU2DZS to know more about the habit of thumb sucking.
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If you've been trying to ignore the habit but your kid is still sucking his thumb, here are some other useful techniques you can try:
Positive support
When you see your kid isn't sucking their thumb, it's time to provide positive reinforcement to boost them. Try utilizing a calendar and stickers every day that thumb sucking was evaded, or reward your child with non-food items to support their pride.
If thumb sucking occurs several times a day, provide positive reinforcement as the child reduces the frequency of the habit. Start with achievable goals and praise your child's good behavior when they don't suck their thumb.
Identify the trigger
While some kids suck their fingers out of an inherent habit, others engage in stress-coping rituals. If your child sucks their thumb in response to stress, identify the trigger and comfort them.
Use gentle reminder
Instead of criticizing your child for sucking their thumb, it's best to use gentle reminders to get them to stop. For example, remind them of all the fun activities they can do with their fingers, such as drawing and painting. Sometimes it's better for kids to come to conclusions on their own.