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hair pulling in children
Hair pulling in children can be a normal phenomenon, and it is very common for children to be curious about different sensations and to explore their bodies by touch. Many children will pull hair as part of a brief childhood phase and it will not develop into a problem. If a child has done damage to their body because of hair pulling, such as pulling out a large chunk of hair, eyebrows or eyelashes, treatment should be administered. If the child expresses they can’t stop pulling their hair or if the pulling of hair persists beyond pre-school age, treatment should be administered for the child.
Helping a Child Who Pulls Hair
Once it is determined that the hair pulling in a child is not a result of normal exploratory behavior, it is significant to adopt a non-judgmental attitude towards the hair pulling behavior. This will help the child to believe that they are not doing something ‘bad’ and will lessen their shame and anxiety.
Observing when and where a child is pulling hair is an important part in the recovery process. Pinpointing the activities that make a child vulnerable to hair pulling, and replacing these activities can be helpful in deterring hair-pulling behavior. It can also be helpful to give the child a toy or other object during the activities where the child pulls hair as a distraction from the hair pulling behavior. The toy can be enticing to the child with sensory stimulation characteristics such as a soft teddy bear or a blob of play-do.
Treatment for Children Who Pull Hair
Hair pulling in children can be cured and is more easily remedied than hair pulling in adults. With the right treatments and a non-critical attitude towards the child, hair pulling can be totally diminished. It is important to seek treatment from a professional therapist or counselor to ensure that the hair pulling behavior will be extinguished.