Let’s talk about a self-care tasks that many kiddos struggle to tolerate…..nail trimming! Whether it be toes or fingernails, the process of getting nails trimmed can be a struggle for many different reasons and as occupational therapists, we are trained to help. Here are some tips and tricks you can try with your child to make this grooming task a breeze.
First thing to consider— we need to improve the child’s tactile processing system and acceptance of touch. To get the child used to their hands and feet being handled you can try the following:
- build a hand and foot massage into your nightly routine
- play “three little piggies”
- count on fingers
- have a thumb war
- rock paper scissors
- go barefoot outside
- messy play with the hands/feet
Next, we need to improve the child’s ability to tolerate nail clippers. Just the sight of them can send some kiddos into “fight or flight”, or maybe the sound is difficult to tolerate. It’s important to be considerate of how the environment is set up and remain attuned to the child’s sensory needs while trying the following:
- offer movement/wiggle breaks throughout clipping activities, have preferred music playing, or diffuse calming scents i.e. lavender
- with supervision, let the child use nail clippers to trim items i.e. dried spaghetti noodles or edges of paper
- assist the child in trimming an adult’s nails
- buy press-on nails and stick to dolls/toys for child to trim
- touch the clippers to each of the child’s fingers/toes, with no expectation of cutting a nail
- trim stickers applied to the child’s fingers/toes
When it’s time for the ‘real deal’, we should prepare the child’s body for the task and keep the routine as predictable as possible while trying the following:
- before trimming, have the child do a calming activity to regulate their nervous system i.e. blow bubbles, animal walks, carry heavy items or
- attempt trimming in a calm environment; you can even try the bath
- prepare the child that when the timer goes off, it will be time to trim their nails
- start with just ONE nail a day if needed
- some children like the use of a flashlight to illuminate the area so they can really see what’s going on
- some children like to have their hand on the clippers to assist
- stay calm! Continue to verbally reassure that it will not hurt and you will only do the number of nails you initially stated
- you may consider using a sticker chart and once all nails are trimmed, the child will earn a small reward
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Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me? binance
This is a super helpful article! Nail trimming can be such a fight with kids sometimes, but your tips make it seem much more manageable. I really like the idea of making it a calming routine with some distraction—bringing out toys or having them look at a book sounds brilliant. The advice to trim after a bath when nails are softer is smart too. I’ll definitely try using a special nail-trim time with distractions to reduce the struggle. Thanks for sharing these kid-friendly strategies.
This is such a helpful and thoughtful post! Nail trimming can be surprisingly stressful for little ones, and I love how you included practical, sensory-friendly ideas to make the process easier. The suggestions like letting kids clip paper or using calming scents are so creative and gentle. Definitely going to try a few of these strategies during our next nail-trimming session!
Nail trimming can be tough for a lot of kids, and it’s easy to see why. The feeling of the clippers or even just the thought of them can make some kids really anxious. One thing that helped was making it part of a fun routine, like doing foot massages or playing games like “three little piggies” to get them used to having their feet and hands touched. Another trick is starting small, like just trimming one nail at a time and making sure to do something calming before, like blowing bubbles. You can even use a sticker chart as a reward for getting through it. The key is taking it slow, making it predictable, and staying calm. It may take some time, but it can definitely get easier!
Great tips! Nail trimming can be surprisingly tricky for little ones, and it’s awesome to see strategies backed by occupational therapy expertise. I especially liked the idea of breaking it into small steps and making it fun rather than stressful. Articles like this are super useful for parents trying to teach kids self-care skills in a calm and encouraging way.