How to Stop a Child From Hair Pulling

Posted by Anonymous , 9/4/2007 Tags:StopChildFromHairPulling
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How to Stop a Child From Hair Pulling

Introduction

Toddlers will sometimes pull an someone's hair to get attention. This annoying behavior can be troublesome and painful, but not at all hopeless. Here are some tips to curb your child's hair-pulling habit.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Steps

1

Step One

Reverse any progress the child has made through the hair pulling. For example if your child pulls another child's hair and takes the other child's toy, hand the toy back to the other child. Then tell your child, "We don't pull hair."
2

Step Two

Give your child a time out. If your toddler is 2 or older a time out may be in order if the hair pulling persists. At least one expert recommends starting with a "chair time out" where you stay with the child while they sit on the chair. This kind of time out should last about a minute.
3

Step Three

Explain to your child after the time out that hair pulling hurts. Briefly explain why your child should stop pulling other people's hair.
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Step Four

Keep calm. Easier said than done of course, but a major reaction from you may actually fuel the bad behavior since children are often looking for attention when they act negatively.
5

Step Five

Engage your child in a dialog. As the child gets older, give the child tools to use instead of hair pulling. For example, discuss what your child can do other than pull hair, like "use her words" to tell what she wants.
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Step Six

Remember that your child's behavior is "bad," not the child and that you are not a bad parent because your toddler pulls your or someone else's hair. Do your best to make the child understand the behavior will not be tolerated and give yourself a "time out" if you need to calm down before dealing with your child.

Tips & Warnings

  • If the "chair time out" does not work, try a regular time out where you have your child take a break with some quiet time to redirect negative behavior. Make sure your child is old enough to benefit from time outs.
  • Toddlers often need to repeat actions over and over again in order to learn. Try your best to maintain a consistent, calm reaction when your child pulls hair and use time outs or gentle but firm admonishments if your child is younger than 2 to show that hair pulling is not allowed.
  • Do not pull your child's hair in order to teach her what it feels like to have hair pulled. This will only model that the inappropriate behavior is acceptable.
  • If your child is pulling his or her own hair and seems unable to stop, it may be a symptom of a compulsive behavior called Trichotillomania. Seek medical advice for proper treatment.
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