YOUR CHILD Nail-Biting Caused By Tensions

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32143, 12 November 1969, Page 2

YOUR CHILD Nail-Biting Caused By Tensions

(By NBIL THOMAS/ Eighty per cent of Americans recruited for World War II were nail-biters or had been. Of 2500 live to 15-year-oid*. studied in Britain 54 per cent of boys were nail-biters, and 46 per cent of girls. A survey in Chicago revealed that more than 60 per cent bit their nails. The high percentage may surprise you. Remember, however, that not all nailbiters chew their nails to the quick. Many only nip away at the ends or sides, not enough for most of us to notice. Nonetheless, they are! nail-biters. Nail-biting differs from i moot child problems you will come upon. It occurs most at about age 11. Other common problems, like bedwetting and temper tantrums, have their peaks much.earlier. After the peak, nail-biting reduces only moderately. In other words, a lot of teenagers and even adults bite their nails. > For all we know, many nailbiters would still be doing so If they were not smoking, or nibbling at pens, pencils and the like. People bite nails to get l relief from tension, or anxiety. They bite nails instead of, say, their skin, because nails are convenient. They are abundant. They re-1 grow quickly. They give little or no pain, unless the biter is persistent. Habit-Forming Like cigarettes, nails lead people into habits. Nail-biting can be effortless. A biter often does not realise he is doing it. Once he starts on a nail (which roughens it), or finds a rough edge on one, he is tempted to chew the roughness away. Nail-biting, although an unattractive and dirty habit, seems harmless. It does not have much permanent effect And it does not affect the teeth. It gives relief from anxieties. If you want to stop it in your child you must try to reduce the tension in his life.: Tell him that he must not do it, chastise him, punish; him, make him wear gloves, paint his nails with foul-! tasting irritants—and you will fail. Whether you stop the biting or not, you will give: him more anxieties. You will: give him more of what caused the biting in the beginning. My mother tried to stop me with several of those methods for about eight years. She bad given up for more than two years when suddenly I stopped. The tension had gone, for some reason. If she had searched for its .cauies she might have stopsped my nail-biting earlier. Causes

If you search for the causes in your child, first make certain he is eating, sleeping and playing enough. Then look for emotional problems. You can often pinpoint them easily because his world is so igatU.

Perhaps he is overshadowed by an older brother and lacks self-confidence. He may not get along with bis teacher. You may not be giving him enough praise or attention. Search his world. You should find some of the pressure points of it Parental intuition should then lead you to a solution.

A small tip. While you tty to reduce his anxieties you will also help him if you make and keep his nails smooth. Smooth nails are usually less inviting to a biter. Olive oil ,or his own file or clipper if he is old enough, may help. Even greater help will be your admiration of his improving nails.