In Dallas daycares and in all types of childcare facilities, biting is a very common issue. Occurring in about one out of ten toddlers, this has become a frustrating problem for affected children and parents. You may be feeling embarrassed or irritated if your child has bitten another child. Conversely, you may be feeling outraged or powerless if your child has been bitten. These worries may prove stressful when confronting the behavior of your child, or when you are concerned for the safety of your child in one of these settings.
Causes of Biting in Young Children
Some young children bite as an extension of the way in which they explore objects. Touching, tugging, squeezing, and sometimes biting others occurs in this form of exploration. As young children “mouth” objects to recognize something, some toddlers may not yet fully understand the difference between mouthing on an object and biting someone.
Around the age of four to seven months children begin teething. As a relief from sore gums and the pain they cause, children can frequently bite on things. By 12 months of age, some children find the reaction interesting when biting occurs. A loud scream from another child who has been bitten, or a loud sound on an object which has been bitten can unintentionally develop the habit of biting in a child.
Behavioral Causes of Biting
Biting to gain attention is a common cause in young children. When children do not receive enough attention or interaction, they may resort to biting to become the center of attention.
Children may also imitate others in different ways. One way in which this manifests is when children see others bite and decide to try it out for themselves. Additionally, some children may see the affection their parents give to them in the form of nibbling and try to do this to others; the end result is, unfortunately, a bite.
As children are trying to become more independent, biting may be used as a quick way of letting out frustration. The lack of verbal skills at this age increases the likelihood of a child resorting to biting when words aren’t working.
Actions in Preventing and Stopping Biting
One way to prevent biting is to look at the child’s schedule and evaluate the situations in which biting occurs. Reducing situations that are stressful, simplifying the play environment and providing strategies for conflict management are good ways to decrease the biting urge. Teaching your child to say “no” and modeling frustration management with others can also help prevent biting.
Whether your child is the biter or on the receiving end, speaking to your daycare personnel or your child’s caregiver may help solve the problem. There you can identify the sources of frustration and establish a possible means toward a solution.
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