Nail Biting

My 5 year old son has always been a nail biter.  He even bites the skin around his nails when his nails are to short to bit.
He is upset with himself because he wants to stop.  Can anyone offer suggestions for me to help him stop?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Ms. Popham,

This behavior can be particularly difficult to stop, both for children and for adults. Your son is probably more prone to do this at some times more than at other times. You can probably identify the pattern. When he is at home, have him wear cotton mittens or gloves during the stretches when he might normally be biting his nails. Sometimes, over a period of weeks, this helps to interrupt the pattern.

Generally, the behavior reduces tension and becomes a habit pattern. To the extent that any particular precipitants to tension can be identified, try to make changes in those areas. However, it's often not possible to discern any particular sources of tension.