Submitted by drplim on September 18, 2008 - 2:55pm.
James,
This is a extremely interesting topic, here is what I am thinking.
The child is thumb-sucking for a reason. To me that is the fundamental here. It is possible that they are doing it because they hang out with younger children and see the younger ones doing it and thus they identify with and prolong their own childhood. In which case I imagine they will naturally grow out of it as they begin to want to be more like an adult. It could be because of an emotional response to stress or trauma, in which case thumb-sucking is their resource. Removing that resource may cause them to either a) become unresourced and repress the thumb-sucking thus disconnecting from their mouth and possibly developing oral issues later b) find another way (possibly more harmful) of resourcing their emotional self either i) actively (crying, punching etcetra) or ii)dissociating, disconnecting emotionally.
The fundamental is that they are doing it for a reason and without knowing the reason. Being really curious as to when she does this may give hints to the underlying reason.
The following site is what is generally found as advice to parents and really scares me.
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The following content is from the site: http://children.webmd.com/tc/thumb-sucking-topic-overview
* Talk to your child openly about the effects of thumb-sucking.
* Put gloves on your child's hands or wrap the thumb with an adhesive bandage or a cloth. Explain that the glove, bandage, or cloth is not a punishment but is only there to remind him or her not to thumb-suck.
* Develop a reward system, such as putting stickers on a calendar or otherwise recording each day that your child does not suck his or her thumb. After an agreed-upon number of days, have a celebration for your child.
* Use a special nontoxic, bitter-tasting nail coating, such as Thum. Apply it like fingernail polish to the thumbnail each morning, before bed, and whenever you see your child sucking his or her thumb. This treatment is most successful when it is combined with a reward system.
If these treatments aren't successful, other methods-including behavioral therapy, thumb devices, or oral devices-may be used.
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Only the first of the suggestions sounds non-violent to me. Children as amazing beings, magical beings, and can become magical adults. But if as a child you got a bad taste in your mouth (bitter-tasting nail coating) everytime you needed reassurance imagine the effects it'll have on you forever. The adult who whenever they have an emotional issue feels like throwing up, or gets a bitter taste in their mouth. And reward systems... every time the child sucks their thumb in hiding they will feel they are committing a sin, they now have to hide their actions or their feelings.
Very interesting topic James, and equally interesting is a discussion on the role of the parent.
Much love to you and your girl
P.
Re: Thumb Sucking
James,
This is a extremely interesting topic, here is what I am thinking.
The child is thumb-sucking for a reason. To me that is the fundamental here. It is possible that they are doing it because they hang out with younger children and see the younger ones doing it and thus they identify with and prolong their own childhood. In which case I imagine they will naturally grow out of it as they begin to want to be more like an adult. It could be because of an emotional response to stress or trauma, in which case thumb-sucking is their resource. Removing that resource may cause them to either a) become unresourced and repress the thumb-sucking thus disconnecting from their mouth and possibly developing oral issues later b) find another way (possibly more harmful) of resourcing their emotional self either i) actively (crying, punching etcetra) or ii)dissociating, disconnecting emotionally.
The fundamental is that they are doing it for a reason and without knowing the reason. Being really curious as to when she does this may give hints to the underlying reason.
The following site is what is generally found as advice to parents and really scares me.
--------------------
The following content is from the site:
http://children.webmd.com/tc/thumb-sucking-topic-overview
* Talk to your child openly about the effects of thumb-sucking.
* Put gloves on your child's hands or wrap the thumb with an adhesive bandage or a cloth. Explain that the glove, bandage, or cloth is not a punishment but is only there to remind him or her not to thumb-suck.
* Develop a reward system, such as putting stickers on a calendar or otherwise recording each day that your child does not suck his or her thumb. After an agreed-upon number of days, have a celebration for your child.
* Use a special nontoxic, bitter-tasting nail coating, such as Thum. Apply it like fingernail polish to the thumbnail each morning, before bed, and whenever you see your child sucking his or her thumb. This treatment is most successful when it is combined with a reward system.
If these treatments aren't successful, other methods-including behavioral therapy, thumb devices, or oral devices-may be used.
-------------------------
Only the first of the suggestions sounds non-violent to me. Children as amazing beings, magical beings, and can become magical adults. But if as a child you got a bad taste in your mouth (bitter-tasting nail coating) everytime you needed reassurance imagine the effects it'll have on you forever. The adult who whenever they have an emotional issue feels like throwing up, or gets a bitter taste in their mouth. And reward systems... every time the child sucks their thumb in hiding they will feel they are committing a sin, they now have to hide their actions or their feelings.
Very interesting topic James, and equally interesting is a discussion on the role of the parent.
Much love to you and your girl
P.