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Ouch! That Hurts:Responding to a
Childs Bite
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Needs/Behavior Assessment: Biting1. How often does your child bite?
Not very often Only a few times Very oftenIf you answered only a few times or very often on the above question please continue.2. Does your child show signs of teething or dental issues (pain in the teeth, mouth or gum area?
Yes No Not sure
If yes, has your child visited the dentist in the last 6 months?
Yes No Not sure3. Does your child show signs of the need of oral stimulation (sucking or chewing on objects frequently)? Yes No Not sure
4. Does your child bite when they are upset, frustrated or scared? Yes No Not sure
5. Is your child able to express their feelings with words? Yes No Not sure
6. Does your child bite at home or at other places besides the center? Yes No Not sure
7. Does your child play well with others? Yes No Not sure8. Does your child take turns and share willingly with their peers?
Yes No Not sureAdditional comments or questions:
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Needs/Behavior Assessment: Biting
Children Exhibiting the Behavior: Biting
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1
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10
Never Bites Bites sometimes Bites often
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h i l d r e n
children
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Needs/Behavior Assessment: Biting
Why Children Bite
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7
teething/ other lack of language skills lack of social/emotionalskills
Reasons
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Overview Why do children bite? Many young toddlers and children bite andwhile biting can be very frustrating, it isimportant to remember that children usually
dont have the intentions on hurting anybody.Children bite for many different reasons andfinding out and understanding that reason isthe first step in stopping the behavior as wellas teaching the child alternativesto biting.
What you can do?Children can be taught healthier and moreappropriate ways to express their emotions,needs and desires.
Objectives: caregivers will gain more
knowledge on biting behaviors caregivers will know how toaddress and respond to bitingbehaviors using individualizedstrategies
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Why Do Children Bite? Young children bite for many different reasons. Understanding why yourtoddler might be biting is the first step in reducing or stopping thebehavior. The following are some of the reasons young children bite:
Communicating frustrationChallenges in playing with othersCause and effectExploration and learningOral stimulation/ teethingMonkey see, monkey doCoping with uncomfortable or difficult feelings
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Normal But UnacceptableWhile biting is a typical behavior for young children, thatdoesnt mean it is acceptable.
Biting causes:Discomfort
Angry feelingsOn occasion serious injury
In addition to the physical and emotional effects, biting canalso cause social challenges for young children andtheir peers.
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What You Can Do?
Observe:To set the stage for effectively addressing this challenge:
Observe the childs challenging behavior Attempt to come to a better understanding of why yourchild is biting by asking the W questions:
Where did the biting incident take place? Who was
involved? When did the biting occur? What happenedbefore the biting incident? Why did it occur?
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What You Can Do?Decide:Use your observations to identify the root(s) of thechallenging behavior.
Developmental issue-Teething
Child has an unmet need- The biting behavior says, There issomething that I really need. Would you help me get it?
Lack of skills- The biting behavior says, There is something that Idont know how to do. Will you please teach me? Many childrensimply do not have the skills they need in order to get along withothers and function appropriately in social interactions.
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What You Can Do?
Take Action!Choose a guidance strategy
Use only positive, developmentally appropriate strategiesChange the contextYou might decide that you need to change the physical
environment, time schedule and/or routine.
Change your own practicesYou might decide that you need to change something that
you are doing.
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Strategies for Responding to Biting Based onWhats Going On For Your Child
The strategies below can help you respond based on your best guess about the reasonyour child is biting.
If you think biting is a substitute for not having the language skills to express himself youcan:
Put into words what you guess your child might be thinking: Jenny, do you want to havea turn on the tricycle? You can ask Ben, Can I have a turn now?Help your child express his feelings in appropriate ways. If your child is really angry, youcan say: Matt, you are so mad! You are really, really angry. Then suggest a way to dealwith these feelings: Making angry lion faces and growling, ripping up newspapers,punching the couch cushions, banging a drum, jumping up and down whatever isacceptable to you.Reinforce your child when he uses words to share his feelings: You asked me for a turn
blowing bubbles instead of grabbing them. Great job. Here you go.Give your child age-appropriate choices, for example, about what to wear or who to playwith. Having choices gives children a sense of control and can reduce biting.Consider a speech- language assessment if you think your childs verbal skills might bedelayed.
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Strategies for Responding to Biting Basedon Whats Going On For Your Child
If your child seems to bite because he/she is overwhelmed by socialInteractions and/or lacks social skills:
Join your child in play by sitting on the floor and coaching him/her in play. Your childmight need help to understand other childrens ideas. He/she might also need guidanceto learn and practice how to join play, take turns, share, communicate with otherchildren, and get help if he/she needs it.
For example, if another child triesto take your childs blocks, youmight say, Molly thinks yourblocks looks fun. She wants toplay too. Can we show Mollywhere the other blocks are?
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Strategies for Responding to Biting Based onWhats Going On For Your Child
If your child is easily overwhelmed by the physical environment and/or the schedule orroutine:
Keep television and radio off or on low volumes. Avoid big crowds and high-activity settings like the mall or the playground on a
sunny Saturday morning.Schedule activities with a lot of sensory input (like clothes-shopping or trips to dentistor doctor) for your childs best times of day, when he is fed and well -rested.Talk with your childs other caregivers about his difficulty managing a lot of sensoryinput. Brainstorm ways to reduce the stimulation in his other caregiving settings.Give your child a firm bear hug when you sense she is feeling stressed and out ofcontrol and perhaps about to bite. This can help children feel held together whichcan be very soothing.Create a cozy corner in your house with pillows, books and other quiet toys likestuffed animals, or use a play tent as a safe place to take a break. Explain that thisis a place your child can go if he wants to be alone or feels out of control and needsto cool down. Ensure that your childs other caregiving settings have a cozy corneras well.
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What Can You Do in the MomentWhen Your Child Bites?
1. Quickly yet calmly move your child away fromthe child he/she has bitten and firmly yet calmly
say, Stop. No biting. Biting hurts. 2. Focus most of your attention on the child who
has been bitten.3. Acknowledge your childs feelings. 4. When your child is calm, teach him/her other
ways to express feelings, needs and/or desires.
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What NOT to Do!DO NOT bite yourchild back.
DO NOT use harshpunishment.Dont label your
child as a biter.
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When to Seek Professional Help?While biting is very common behavior, it usually stops by age 3to 3 1/2. If your toddler continues to bite, or the number of bitesincreases instead of decreases over time, it is probably a goodidea to seek guidance from a child development specialist oryour childs pediatrician. These professionals can help youidentify the reason for the biting and develop a strategy foraddressing the behavior.
Remember, there is no quick fix. Over time, and withassistance, your child will stop biting and use more appropriateways to express her needs.
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ConclusionBiting is a very common behavioramong toddlers, which meansthere are a lot of concerned
parents and caregivers outthere. So you are notalone!The good news is thatthere is a lot that parents andcaregivers can do to reduce and,ultimately, eliminate bitingbehaviors.
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Presentation EvaluationPresenters name: VictoriaTopic: BitingScale: 5 = Excellent, 4 = Good, 3 = Satisfactory, 2 = Needs
Improvement, 1 = Poor
1. Knowledge of topic 5 4 3 2 12. Organization 5 4 3 2 13. Content 5 4 3 2 14. Use and quality of visual aids 5 4 3 2 1
Overall 5 4 3 2 1
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ResourcesBanks, R., & Yi, S. (2007). Dealing with biting behaviors in young children . Retrieved
from http://ecap.crc.illinois.edu/poptopics/biting.html
CSEFEL: Center on Social Emotional Foundations for Early Learning. (2013).Responding to your child's bite . Retrieved fromhttp://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/documents/biting-parenting_tool.pdf
Marion, M. (2011). Guidance of young children . (8th ed., pp. 3-19). Upper Saddle, NewJersey: Pearson Education, Inc.
Pantley, E. (2011). When toddlers bite . Retrieved fromhttp://www.keepkidshealthy.com/parenting_tips/ep/biting.html
ZeroToThree. (2012). Why do toddlers bite? finding the right response . Retrieved fromhttp://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/challenging-behavior/chew-on-this-resources-on-biting.html
