The majority of toddlers engage in some biting between their first and
third birthdays. They bite for a number of reasons.
Probably the most common reason is that it is one of the few ways of
communicating that's effective for them, before verbal skills are developed.
Another reason toddlers bite is to express frustration, a feeling which
is very common with toddlers, because both their communication skills
and their motor skills are so limited
What to do if your toddler bites
We know some of the reasons why toddlers bite but it is just as important to
acknowledge that biting is not an acceptable behavior. Adults must help
toddlers control their urge to bite other children by responding quickly and
firmly.
To answer this question lets first say what you should NOT do
- Don’t bite your child back to show him how it feels.
- Don’t assume that your child is willfully misbehaving.
- Don’t yell at your toddler. This will do nothing more than scare her.
What you should do is
- Intercept them -
As you become familiar with your toddler’s actions, you may be able to stop a bite
even before it even occurs.
- Teach them -
Immediately after your toddler bites another child, look her in the eye and tell
her in one or two short sentences what you want her to know.
- Avoid playful biting -
Nibbling your little one’s toes or playfully nipping his fingers sends a mixed
message to your child.
- Give more attention to the injured child -
Typically, we put all our energy into correcting the biter’s actions and we
don’t give the child who was bitten any consolation. Soothing the child who was
bitten can show your child that his actions caused another child fear or pain.
You can even encourage your child to help sooth his friend.
Always remain calm in a biting situation. Being in control of your emotions
teaches self control in children and gives a sense of security
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