5 year old DD with bad habits - what can we do?

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Hello - our DD1, aged 5 3/4 has a few bad habits that are driving us mad. Don't like to admit to a couple of them but they are:
Nailbiting - started about a term after she started school and is very bad - she will bite until there is nothing there and then bite the skin, sometimes until it's very sore.
Nosepicking and eating it - she did this on the way up to the stage at the school nativity last week!
Rubbing her face and eyes although she says they don't itch.
In the summer she had an insect bite on her head, just behind her fringe, and she scratched it until it bled, picked the scab and has continued to pick the scab so that it has never healed and is gradually getting bigger. Haidresser has told her she may have a bald patch there if she doesn't stop but this hasn't made her stop.
And finally she pulls at her crotch - we always ask if she needs the toilet but she says no "it's just a habit I've got".
We know she was a loner at school in the reception year and she has sometimes complained about having few friends at school but that seems to be changing now. I suppose we could be considered to be fairly strict about things at home, but feel we need to be, we love her to bits and we are so pleased with how she is developping in just about every other way - it's just these habits which sadden us. We realise that it must be partly our fault but what to do about it? Does anyone have any advice please?
Thanks so much.

Dont know about advice, but you're not alone - DS is 5 and in Reception - since starting school he has been picking at his fingernails until there is nothing there. The nails look terrible and I too dont know how to stop him.

I dont see how it's your fault atall.

I don't have any advice on hwo to stop there thugh. Except lots and lots of praise for all the good things she does and lots of attention for all the good things.

Dd will pick and nibble at the skin around her nails, making them bleed on a daily basis. She also shrugs her shoulders every few minutes - sometimes non stop for up to a minute, has a head shake and a sniffing noise tick. She also twirls her hair around her finger and pulls it out. She started age 4 and a bit. She has just turned 5 and started reception in Sept. These ticks/habits are getting worse. The GP said she could not help them and just to ignore and distract.

I don't think there is anything you can do. Just ignore, distract, praise the positives. It is a phase, it will pass.

Nobody's fault; it doesn't have to mean anything majorly wrong. I have spent the last two years gently reminding my ds (7) that he mustn't pick his nose and that fiddling with private parts is something he must only do when other people can't see him. There has been some improvement; he does know he shouldn't, and he doesn't do it too much in public.

Young children do have disgusting habits and we have to train them out of them, but as I like to remind myself "childrearing is work in progress"!

So keep on nagging by all means, but don't feel sad- that's taking it too seriously.

Dd1 is the same with lots of little habits - her particularly bad one is licking her lips and picking at them, and licking her fingers. She is now 10.5 and I still need to remind her. As cory does, I just gently remind her when I see her doing it, and hope she will grow out of it eventually. She doesn't realise she is doing it, which is half the problem.

I have a DD who seems to move from one bad habit to the next - if we work on breaking one habit the next thing I notice is that she is now chewing her hair/biting her nails and the list goes on. Seems she needs to have something to fiddle with esp when she is watching TV for example. Sometimes now she chews on the sleeve or collar of her jacket.
When she was a toddler she had a little toy comforter which she took everywhere and chewed on/played with. (It got into a pretty gross condition despite regular washing!). These newer bad habits seem to have begun since she started school and was forced to give up the comforter.
When you think about it, lots of people have nervous mannerisms. I am now thinking it would be a good idea to find/give her something to have with her which she can fiddle with and chew on! - a child's equivalent of worry beads - but I am stuck for ideas at the moment.
I dont know if there is a simlar pattern with your DD, but maybe this approach would also help your daughter if someone out there can offer any suggestions!

ds was an avid nail biter - till we rewarded him with 10p at the end of each week for each finger nail that wasn't bitten down to the quick - 2 months later one very rich ds!

Thanks so much to all of you who have replied so far - it's a comfort to know we are not the only family with this issue (but obviously I wish you all luck with helping your dear children to stop their habits too).
Interesting to hear that a GP has said that the child can't help it as he/she doesn't realise they are doing whatever it is.
Dustyroad - you are right - I know I am a great hair twiddler, especially when deep in thought and I am always moving my fingers when the rest of my body is still (but my habits just don't seem as grim as those of my DD1!) I sucked my thumb until well into adulthood (in private only in the latter years - it used to drive my parents crazy!)
We will keep to gentle reminders and just hope that the behaviours are not due to some deep insecurities or fears about things she feels unable to share with us. Thanks again everyone. Any more advice gratefully received.

Wow - just read Titchy's message - what a fab idea! We will definitely try that - thanks.