Somewhere between one and three years old, toddlers tend to start a biting habit. The most common reason for this concern is that this is one of the few ways that toddlers can effectively communicate with others. However, not all children bite. Some grab, shove, pinch or punch. This might be just as bad!
Also, toddlers sometimes start biting because their motor skills and ability to communicate are so restricted, that they have to express themselves somehow.
It can seem funny for a young toddler to see his mommy suddenly bolt upright or for one of her playmates to begin crying. Another reason for biting is that the toddler is teething or because they just think everything should go in their mouth so why not someone’s arm? The cause might even be as basic as being hungry.
How do you teach your child not to bite? It has to be completely understood that biting is bad behaviour and can hurt others. Point out how much pain it causes other children when your toddler bites them. Be sure to let your toddler know that biting is not allowed, that it's wrong, and that it makes you unhappy.
If you find that your child is biting due to frustration, give your toddler an alternative way to express to people they are having a difficult time. Even though teaching English seems to be a monumental task at this time, most toddlers can be taught words that are right for certain situations.
As an example, "When you need to tell mommy that you need some help, you can't bite." Or “Show mommy what you need, but don’t bite. Mommy will get hurt if you bite her, and I know that you don't want to make mommy sad." This might induce a sense of shame for their actions, and they may think twice the next time before biting someone.
As parents, you shouldn't let biting become a big issue. This is the case for any behaviour that you don't want to become a habit. Gently but firmly tell the toddler that there is no biting allowed, that it is wrong and that it hurts all sorts of people – both big and small.
No comments:
Post a Comment