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Biting is an aggressive behavior that alarms a lot of parents and childcare providers, as well as frightening the child who is bitten and his parents. Children will bite most frequently between the ages of 1yr and 3yrs. Biting is a very common occurrence in a childcare setting, or any time children gather in a group. There are many reasons a child may bite. Some of the more common reasons are outlined below.
Frustrated Biter: You may have a frustrated biter. Small children do not have the verbal skills to express their emotions. They may know what they want to say, or what they are feeling, but can’t get the words out. Physical activities are much easier and a much more natural course, especially for a toddler. If another child takes his toy he may react by hitting or biting. If biting gets a strong response, the child will continue to bite to communicate their anger.
Experimental Biter: Children live in a sensory world. They develop their sense of taste and feel early, and enjoy experimenting with them. Even the youngest children will put things in their mouths to explore the taste and feel of an object. When a child gets teeth, this can add a whole new dimension to the exploration. A child may bite, not out of anger, but out of curiosity.
Power Struggle Biters: This problem sometimes occurs in the smallest of a family or group of children. The older children may seem stronger, or get more attention and this gives the younger child an "option" to seem more powerful in a situation.
Threatened or Stressed Biters: A child may feel threatened in a new surrounding, away from parents. A child may feel stressed out because of changes at home or in childcare. Divorce or other possible problems at home, like a new sibling is another cause for stress and biting.
The caregiver should give extra attention to the child who has been bitten. Wash the wound with soap and water to prevent infection. If it is an open wound cover it lightly with gauze and tape. Use an antibacterial cream like Bacitracin. Apply ice to prevent or limit swelling. Console the child and explain that they did nothing wrong. Alert the parents of the bitten child of this incident.
Disciplining the biting child can be difficult. Children in this age group may not have the verbal skills to understand what you are saying to them, or why their actions, which are so instinctive, are wrong. Never hit or bite a child back, or instruct the "victim" to do so. This only justifies in the child's mind that violence is acceptable.
Working together assures that both sides can see possible behavior that triggers the bite. Look for patterns, does the child bite at the same times each time? Does he bite the same child or adult? Could the biter need an earlier lunchtime? Or is the child tired or over-stimulated?
Remove the child that has bitten from the group and have explained to them in a firm voice that biting is NOT allowed. Explain those bites HURT! Try to explain to the child if he is old enough to come to the caregiver when there is a problem, or use "words" to talk to your friends.
Shadowing is very important when a child bites. Observing the children’s behavior, possible patterns leading up to the biting, and of course preventing when at all possible. Many times you can be right there and a child is so quick that the bite will occur before it can be stopped. It is important to let everyone know that you are taking prompt action and that you are trying to eliminate this behavior as quickly as possible.
The key is understanding. Teaching children the correct way to control and express themselves is the key to developing good self-esteem and independence.
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