NAIL BITING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 230, 28 September 1935, Page 3 (Supplement)

NAIL BITING.

Nail biting aud finger picking in children are troublesome habits to cure. Unless it is caused by imitation, and this is by no means rare, a habit of this kind is a sure sign that the nerves are not in good condition. Perhaps something is troubling the child's mind. It may be a feeling of inferiority if there are older and cleverer children; of loneliness, if he is an only child; of jealousy, if thepe is a new baby; of anxiety, if he is not happy at school. It is the mother's job to try to find out what the cause is and, if possible, remove it. Meanwhile, she should draw as little-attention as possible to the bad habit, and never scold, punish, or nag. Often the child himself is quite unconscious of what he is doing and cannot control it. When the nerves are affected, anything which draws attention to the child, or fixes his mind on the habit, is detrimental. Carefully inspect the child's hands every day. tiling the nails, pressing back the cuticle and cuttins away any "back hiters." A little i.'iif can often be induced to leave off nail hitina by the <rift of a manicure set, and by being encouraged to take a pride in her hands.