School Newsletter - March 2024 | ||||||||||||||
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Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Understanding and Responding to Children Who BiteBiting is a typical behavior often seen in infants, toddlers, and 2-year olds. As children mature, gain self-control, and develop problem-solving skills, they usually outgrow this behavior. While not uncommon, biting can be an upsetting and potentially harmful behavior. It’s best to discourage it from the very first episode. This article will help you to understand the reasons young children bite and give you some ideas and strategies for responding appropriately. Why do young children bite?Some children bite instinctively, because they have not developed self-control. For example, when 3-year-old Marcus grabs a doll from his 2-year-old sister Gina, her first response is to bite him and grab the doll. She doesn’t stop to think about other ways to act or the result of her actions. But there are many other reasons why children may bite. A child might bite to
How should I respond when my child bites?While every situation is different, here are some general guidelines for responding when a child bites. Infants If your infant takes an experimental bite on a mother’s breast or grandpa’s shoulder, stay calm and use clear signals to communicate that it is not okay for one person to bite another. A firm “no” or “no biting!” is an appropriate response. Toddlers and Preschoolers Biting is less common in preschoolers than toddlers. When a preschooler bites, it may be due to something at home or at their child care program that is causing the child to be upset, frustrated, confused, or afraid. A preschooler may also bite to get attention or to act in self-defense. Follow the steps below with both toddlers and preschoolers.
*Excerpts taken from “Understanding and Responding to Children Who Bite” www.naeyc.org – National Association for the Education of Young Children. We’re here for all of your staffing needs.
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