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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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3 Year Kid, Started Habit Of Eating Papers. How Can I Get Rid Of This Problem?

My 3 year old son is very sharp and smart in understanding all the things..he has a very good grasping power..these days he has started eating papers whenever he gets that..we try to keep the papers out of his reach but somehow he will get it and he will start chewing the paper. We have used all methods of telling him nicely, scolding, beating nothing has worked. Also he starts banging his head when he does not get something he asks for. I and my husband are working and we have a nanny to take care of him from afternoon till evening. Morning he gos to school. Please advise how to deal with him
Mon, 8 Jul 2013
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Dentist 's  Response
Hi,
Thanks for the query,
As your child is in the age of developing sense and learning the things,so sometimes they get them indulge in these kind of activities.
Its the time for you to take sensible moves towards your child.
At this stage if the child is discouraged,he develops a sense of guilt over his activites so scolding and beating will definitely not work.
You should tell him the importance of paper and the ways to make a paper attractive by making pictures , coloring them or making paper crafts.Then allow and engage your child in a self directed play. Give him your time and affection, this will encourage him to start learning new things with paper and give him some reward for his activites too.
this surely will work
Take care
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1 Doctor agrees with this answer

Pediatrician Dr. Y V Siva Sankara Murty's  Response
Hi,

Thanks for writing to health care magic.

This problem is called pica. This is eating of non nutritive substances like paint, mud, etc etc.

Proper monitoring is required to stop such problem. There is no simple treatment for this. Please see if there is any stress factor which could lead to such a problem and avoid that.

You should not beat your child because that will not help in resolution of the problem in any way.

Continue to ask further queries as required.
Hope this helps.
Take care.
     
Dr Y V Siva Sankara Murty
M.D.(Pediatrics)
Associate Professor of Pediatric
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3 Year Kid, Started Habit Of Eating Papers. How Can I Get Rid Of This Problem?

Hi, Thanks for the query, As your child is in the age of developing sense and learning the things,so sometimes they get them indulge in these kind of activities. Its the time for you to take sensible moves towards your child. At this stage if the child is discouraged,he develops a sense of guilt over his activites so scolding and beating will definitely not work. You should tell him the importance of paper and the ways to make a paper attractive by making pictures , coloring them or making paper crafts.Then allow and engage your child in a self directed play. Give him your time and affection, this will encourage him to start learning new things with paper and give him some reward for his activites too. this surely will work Take care