When do kids start to trim their own nails?

[Raifta]

Having just experienced (read: endured) another nail trimming session with both kids, I am starting to wonder if I shouldn't be teaching them to do this themselves at this point.

 

Both are adamant that they don't want to do it themselves.  But I think they are old enough and have the manual dexterity - just not sure of the best way to approach it.  They are just turned 11 and 9. 

 

Even to me this sounds like a silly problem but I have no recollection of when/how I started trimming my own nails as a child.  So I'm asking for others' experiences in this area.

 

Are there Youtube videos for them to watch?  Is it easier to use clippers or some sort of scissors?  We use clippers and they tend to be afraid of them.  They also hate the feeling of having freshly trimmed nails and insist on running their hands and feet under water to get rid of the 'tickly' feeling afterwards.

 

 

[Plink]

Mine start with toenails at 5 and are able to do their own hands by age 6. Every once in a while my 7yo may ask for help with her dominant hand, but in general she is pretty independent at this point.

[Ottakee]

I have no idea on my older ones but my 9 year old does his own.

[alisoncooks]

My 10 year old refuses. I just cut hers last night.

[poppy]

My 8 year old does her own.

My 6 year old wants to, but can't quite get it (hand strength and yes dexterity).

[38carrots]

6-7? They use nail clippers (as opposed to manicure scissors).

[maize]

My 13 and 11 year olds do their own, I clip the 9 year old's and the younger ones (when I remember).

[Rachel]

6-7ish depending on the child. I stil do toes until I'm sure they won't cut the big toe wrong and get ingrown nails. My 9 year old doesn't seem to notice when his nails are long so I point out it needs to be done.

[lavender's green]

My boys both started at 3. My older kid has good fine motor skills and has always done a good job. The current 3 year old, not so much, but he's always going off to have another try at it.

[RootAnn]

Half of mine chew them off. I'd trade clipping them myself until they go off to college if I could get them to stop gnawing them.

 

(Eldest trims her own. Started at 12, maybe? Youngest still gets his trimmed by Dh.)

[gardenmom5]

dudeling has been doing it since he was at least five.

 

I didn't teach him - he likes super short nails. 

[Garga]

I don't remember exactly. They are 14 and 11 now and they've both been cutting them for many years now. My ds11 used to scream like he was being murdered when I'd cut his nails--up until 7 or 8. But somewhere between 7/8 and 11 he went from screaming bloody murder to doing it on his own. I never remind him. He's the one saying, "Mom, I need the clippers. My nails are too long."

[Julie Smith]

One at 3, without being taught or having to be reminded to do so.

 

The other at 11, and only when told, and I still sometimes do it.

[Cinder]

Two started around 7yo but one didn't have the manual dexterity until nearly 10yo.

[extendedforecast]

Thanks for the reminder. Ive been meaning to trim my kids' nails for about a week. But I can only do it while they sleep; they won't tolerate it while awake. I'm not sure when they'll take over the job. I can't remember any specific time with my older kids. Maybe it was when they started painting their own nails?

[fourisenough]

Eldest learned last fall when she went to college! Others took over much earlier. I'm super neurotic about short, clean, well-cared for nails and I've passed that along to my kids, for better or worse!

[xixstar]

I haven't trimmed my 8yo or 6yo in years so they must have taken it over at some point.

 

Though I just asked my 6yo if she trims her toenails and she said no, never. What?? I had to do an inspection and they're just fine and she insists she never trims them (or bites them - yeah, I had to clarify that too).

 

So maybe I have kids with nails that don't grow?

Edited February 4, 2017 by xixstar

[sassenach]

I can't remember, but I think it was around 5 or 6. Though I will say that I had to take over doing my 14yo's big toes because he's having a real problem with ingrown nails.

 

Just hand them the clippers. They'll figure it out.

[lllll]

nm

Edited February 10, 2017 by --Kathy--

[imagine.more]

Mine took over mostly at 7. I still help with the right hand since that's hard for him being right-handed, but he does it mostly himself and does a decent job of it. 

[Petrichor]

Mine started at 5 or 6. He's 7.5 now. He usually does it himself when reminded, but he likes DH to do it for him sometimes. He does do a good job when he does his own.

[Ausmumof3]

My seven and ten year olds so their own. I prefer to do the five year olds for safety reasons but he's got into the nail scissors and done it before.

[Suzanne in ABQ]

Older two did it earlier, probably around age 6.  Basically, by the time they were strong enough to work the clippers, they were also coordinated enough to not hurt themselves.  They just got some clippers, and went at it on their own.

 

Younger dd, now age 11, waited longer.  She insisted she couldn't, but I think she just enjoyed the togetherness of me doing it.  There was always lots of giggling because it tickled her feet.  She hated it when I scraped under her toenails, though, so she took over that job first.  Then, one day, she needed it, and I was busy. I just told her to do it herself, and she did.  I still have to remind her, just as I have to remind her to wash her sticky hands.  The other two kids hated dirty hands.  

 

They're all different.

[J-rap]

It's funny, but I have no idea!  I never remember actually teaching them how, nor when they decided to take it on themselves.  I guess it just naturally happened at some point.

 

Maybe give the oldest one her own special manicure set?  Then she'll probably give it a try herself.  I think by 11 she can be doing it herself.

[2ndGenHomeschooler]

I have no idea. I haven't trimmed any kid nails in years and my youngest is 7. A couple of mine chew their fingernails but I wish they'd stop. They run around barefoot year round and I think that just wears their toenails down, at least when they're outside a lot.

[2ndGenHomeschooler]

Wait, is this possible, lol?? I think dog nails can because their toenails curve down and touch the ground...I can't picture that in kids.

LOL Not really sure. It's just a theory (albeit a poor one) based on my observations of nasty feet with jagged toenails all summer long. Maybe they trim them. Trimming nails is something I never tell them to do. And since every other act of personal hygiene only happens if I tell them, I need something to explain the lack of crazy long nails. 😀😜