I saw a child yesterday in the bus station and she was biting her nails. I wondered how do kids develop such bad habits like that. Could someone explain how children acquire that kind of mannerism?

There are many habits that children pick up just through nerves, or because they find comfort in it. But it is also possible that they see a parent doing it.

But it's harmless and could be worse if you try to break them of it.

But it's harmless and could be worse if you try to break them of it.

That would raise an objection from my parents. Nail biting is strictly prohibited when I was little. My father's reason was that the nails acquire a lot of dirt so when I place my fingers in my mouth, I am actually transferring the dirt that was in my nails to my mouth. It makes sense does it? But this is just my 2 cents.

It makes sense, but I still don't believe it. I bit my nails growing up and am fine. It took me until I was 21 to stop. It starts off harmless, but quickly becomes a habit that is near impossible to break.

I've been biting my nails since I was a small child. I have no idea why or where I might have picked up the habit as I was always scolded for it at home. I have stopped a few times through the years but always seem to go back to it in times of stress. My mother tried some kind of pepper polish stuff that was supposed to deter me but it never stopped me for long as the polish would wear off.

I never bit my nails but I did pick up another habit that wasn't the best. I used to remember hearing curse words a ton from having older people around me a good bit, so i would repeat what they said. This lasted long enough until I knew what I was talking abut then I felt bad for those around me when this started I was about four. :D

Biting your nails can actually change the growth patterns if you bite them down to the quick/nailbed too often. It can transfer dirt and germs, but the human mouth has more than its fair share of bacteria and germs already so I'm not sure biting your nails would make it worse.