Hi Swhite,
What are your kitties name?
Are you able to trim their claws at all? That would be my first recommendation. If you need some instruction on ways to do it, let us know. The vet can also help with regular trimming or can show you how.
How much active play-time do you give your cats? Regular sessions where you give them a good run around the house with fishing-rod style toys (Neko Flies or Da Bird are great for this) can go a long way towards calming unwanted behaviours. Cats "in the wild" would be covering a lot of ground each day hunting for food and are hugely stimulated mentally. When confined indoors, all this pent-up energy has nowhere productive to go and can frequently result in a cat "acting out".
Lastly, try to encourage some positive associations between the cat and child. Which means please do not start using a spray-bottle on him, as that will only reinforce a negative association and could backfire (i.e. make the behaviour worse). Instead, give him a highly desirable treat when he's in the vicinity of the child, and only then. Research clicker-training for cats as well.
Some links for you to check out:
http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com...ips-with-cats/
http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com...t-should-know/
http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com...cat-play-time/
And PLEASE don't declaw. Rehoming would be kinder.