Biting is a normal part of childhood development. Young children bite for many different reasons, from teething to seeing what reaction it will provide. Many children between ages 1 and 3 go through a biting phase, which they eventually outgrow.
Still, biting is something you want to discourage. There are ways to dissuade your little chomper from sinking his teeth into everything that walks and talks.
Frustration, anger, and fear are strong emotions, and toddlers lack the language skills to communicate how they are feeling. Instead, they may bite as a way of saying, "Pay attention to me!" or "I don't like that!" Toddlers may also learn that biting can be used as a tool for accessing a desired item.
Keep your own feelings in check. You might feel frustrated, infuriated, annoyed, embarrassed, or worried. All of these feelings are normal, but responding when you are in an intense emotional state is usually not a good idea. So calm yourself before you respond, and then, in a firm, matter-of-fact voice, say: "No biting. Biting hurts." Comment on how the other child is feeling, "Tommy is crying. He is crying because you bit him. Biting hurts." Keep it short, simple and clear.
Next, shift your attention to the child who was bitten. Showing concern and sympathy for the hurt child teaches empathy. Focusing only on the child who bit could actually reinforce the unwanted behavior.
Help children move on to a different activity. The child who bit and the one who was hurt should not be made to play together unless they want to. Talk to your child later about different ways they can express themselves instead of biting.
If you find yourself in the situation of having a biter or your child is getting bitten, the staff at Endless Discoveries can mentor parents as their children go through this phase.
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