Child vs. Nail Trimming

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

As toddlers get older, they become more vocal and what they like and what they don’t. This includes the dreaded hygienic chore of nail trimming. 

Nail trimming is important for various reasons. For one, those little claws left untamed, can leave unintentional scratches on themselves or others. Another reason is to keep the hands free of dirt and grime that can collect under the nails. 

Nail clipping involves touch, pressure, sound, and visual sensations. Some children may not tolerate this task because they perceive the sensations as uncomfortable or painful, not because they are actually in pain.


Here are some OT tips to make nail trimming a little easier:

Continue reading →

What is Occupational Therapy (and how can it help my child?)

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L
What is Occupational Therapy?

Your child has survived the first two months of school and you think all is going well. Then, you receive the news that your child is struggling. 

They are having difficulties sitting still in a chair or keeping their hands to themselves. Perhaps they keep dropping objects out of their hands or it takes them a long time to complete written assignments. Maybe they are consistently having meltdowns in class, having trouble attending to tasks, or even just listening to instructions. 

As a parent, this is hard to hear.  Are these difficulties something they’ll grow out of, or are they just clumsy? Is this a Nature vs. Nurture situation? Are the other kids doing it, too? You want to do what’s best for them, but not sure how to go about it or even how to personally relate. 

Well, there are a few options that can help in the field of Occupational Therapy.

Continue reading →