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It isn’t always possible to remove the cause but sometimes if you can work out what is triggering the biting you can remove the trigger or get in first.
If we are able to understand the different reasons for children biting it helps us to better deal with the situation.
Biting generally occurs when a child is under emotional stress, when they cannot understand or cope with. Biting in this instance is an expression of distress and pain and your child may seem very upset or angry.
Frustration is large reason children bite. It happens when children get into a situation that they can’t control and is dependent upon their age and stage of development. For example, children under 3 yrs are usually not ready to play in a cooperative way with other children. So if they are in a situation they can't 'fix' they may respond by hitting or biting. They have not yet learned other ways to cope. If biting gets a strong response, which is likely, they believe that it is successful and may try it again. Sometimes, too, the youngest children bite when they are playing with others who are bigger and stronger.
Often children may bite as they feel powerless. They discover that biting is a way of getting some power in the situation.
Children also bite as they are teething and need to help their sore gums.
Sometimes biting is how the infant explores and experiences the world through putting everything into their mouth and experimenting.
It can turn into a game for the child once they see the reaction it brings. So don't let them think that it is funny or a game and teach them that biting hurts.
The best way to help the incidences remain low or nonexistent is to supervise, observe and monitor. This is important as you may be able to remove triggers or if nothing else catch them before/during the act. Young children are not easily able to know what they are feeling. They just act and it is rather impulsively at times- the first and quickest way to achieve a result is often the one that they will choose. If we try to find out what is causing the biting to occur, what the trigger is will help us address and ultimately rectify the biting issue. We can do this by keeping a watch on when the biting happens and what is happening just before. It isn’t always possible to remove the cause, but sometimes if you can work out what is triggering the biting, you can remove the trigger or get in first.
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Tips:
· Offer as much love and affection as you can at other times.
· Make sure that your child's needs are protected so she doesn't need to bite. Make sure that she is not getting the worst of the deal.
· If your child has already bitten, quickly tell her that she is not to bite and remove her from the situation.
· If you can, get in first and avoid situations that your child cannot cope with.
· When your child does bite, say firmly: "We don't bite, biting hurts" and remove him immediately from the situation.
· Respond promptly, firmly and calmly to biting. Show your disapproval without anger, remove him from the situation and help him find another outlet for his feelings.
· Plan ahead if possible to avoid situations where you know your child might bite.
Remember: Don't bite back.... Not only is it terrifying for the child and unacceptable it teaches the child the reverse of what you were trying to achieve. |
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