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Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
finger nail biting
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Sep 08, 1999 12:00AM
, Sep 08, 1999 12:00AM
Dear Mr. Owen,
Thanks for participating in the Forum and for your question.
It's best not to attempt to interfere directly with a habit pattern such as nail biting. More often than not, attempts to stop the behavior are met with frustration and only exacerbate the problem.
However, there are a couple of things to watch. Habits such as nail biting are generally a form of tension release/reduction. Now, this does not mean that you'll be able to identify a 'source' of tension or stress, but it's worth taking inventory of your daughter's day-to-day life to see if you can identify such a source. If so, addressing the source of the tension will help reduce and maybe even eliminate the nail biting.
If the habit is confined to particular times or situations (e.g., while watching television, riding in a car, etc.), you can offer some alternative, such as fingering some 'worry beads' or squeezing a tennis ball or some other such object. In my clinical practice I have also had some success, when nail biting occurs repeatedly in a particular context, with having the child wear cotton mittens or gloves. After a while, the habit pattern wanes and ultimately disappears. But try to avoid the situation of engaging in a struggle around the behavior. If you can engage your daughter in a playful fashion to attempt some change, it's worth a try.
Thanks for participating in the Forum and for your question.
It's best not to attempt to interfere directly with a habit pattern such as nail biting. More often than not, attempts to stop the behavior are met with frustration and only exacerbate the problem.
However, there are a couple of things to watch. Habits such as nail biting are generally a form of tension release/reduction. Now, this does not mean that you'll be able to identify a 'source' of tension or stress, but it's worth taking inventory of your daughter's day-to-day life to see if you can identify such a source. If so, addressing the source of the tension will help reduce and maybe even eliminate the nail biting.
If the habit is confined to particular times or situations (e.g., while watching television, riding in a car, etc.), you can offer some alternative, such as fingering some 'worry beads' or squeezing a tennis ball or some other such object. In my clinical practice I have also had some success, when nail biting occurs repeatedly in a particular context, with having the child wear cotton mittens or gloves. After a while, the habit pattern wanes and ultimately disappears. But try to avoid the situation of engaging in a struggle around the behavior. If you can engage your daughter in a playful fashion to attempt some change, it's worth a try.
