The infant and toddler years are full of exciting milestones and perplexing new behaviors, like biting, which can concern educators and families. While biting is often seen as aggressive, it’s important to remember that young children use behaviors like biting to explore, communicate, or cope with their environment.
Why do children bite?
According to NAEYC, children bite for a variety of reasons, including:
- Teething pain
- Exploring cause and effect (“What happens when I bite?)”
- Oral-motor stimulation
- Self-defense
- To feel in control
- To communicate needs (e.g., hunger or fatigue)
- To communicate emotions (e.g., frustration anger, fear, or overstimulation)
We can respond with empathy and effective behavior management strategies by understanding these motivations. Below are some resources to support you as an early childhood professional and the families of children in your care.
Resources for Managing Biting:
- Understand Triggers with the ABC Model: Analyze why biting happens and how to prevent it. Watch this video to learn more about why children bite.
- Positive Communication Tips: Use this guide to redirect behavior effectively.
- Social and Emotional Development: Explore the developmental stages that may lead to biting.
- Reframe Your Perspective: Use this Reframing Behavior activity to adjust how you think about challenging behaviors.
- Utilize Interactive Learning Activities: The “No Biting” Book Nook includes toddler-friendly activities and a printable puppet book.
- Engage Through Playful Learning: Reading books and singing songs about biting often help children learn not to bite because they are fun, engaging and easier to retain. Search the internet or visit your local library to find songs or books for free!
Resources for Engaging Families:
- Talking with Families about Problem Behavior: Dos and Don’ts
- Communicating with Families: 3 Key Steps
- Shareable Flyer: How to Help Your Child Stop Biting in English and Spanish
- Shareable Flyer: Responding to Your Child’s Bite in English and Spanish
Sign up for the Pyramid Model eModules made available through the AZ Department of Education to learn more about supporting challenging behaviors in the classroom.