Kerry and Jordan decided it was time to try trimming their son’s fingernails again. Kyle had been accidentally scratching his face while sleeping. It was getting harder to convince him to cooperate with a weekly trim.
They waited until they thought Kyle would be relaxed enough and focused more on the iPad than on their clippers. They didn’t want to sedate him, like his PA suggested, but they knew his nails had to be cut–soon.
Many kids struggle when having their nails cut.They often don’t see the point to it, and don’t want to sit through something that they don’t like. But for kids on the autism spectrum, nail trimming can approach dental work for the level of distress, avoidance, and general misery that they and their families experience during this simple grooming task.
Where is all the distress coming from?
Parents aren’t trying to upset their child; they want to lovingly care for their personal needs. Kids aren’t intentionally being difficult without a reason. Their distress is real. Understanding the factors that contribute to the problems of nail trimming transforms the experience.
It is possible to unwind each one, coming up with targeted solutions that minimize, or even eliminate, the stresses that arise. First, it helps to know where all that resistance is coming from.