Recreational strategies for the elimination of pacifier and finger sucking habits.

PURPOSE To verify the efficacy of recreational strategies of awareness for spontaneous removal of finger sucking or pacifier habits in children. METHODS Fifteen children (nine female and six male), with ages ranging from 4 to 8 years (mean age of 5.6 years) participated in the study. Recreational strategies were developed for the removal of oral habits. The program consisted of ten one-hour weekly sessions. At the end of each session, parents were oriented, solved questions, and reported their child's behaviors during the past week. RESULTS Twelve children (80%) totally eliminated the suction habit after the program. No difference was found for the removal when data regarding finger and pacifier sucking were compared (p=0.34). CONCLUSION The awareness strategies using recreational activities was effective to eliminate finger and pacifier habits in children.