No Easy Solution: Toddlers and Biting
Toddlers also lack the social skills needed to cope with stressful situations. As adults, when we are under stress we have learned how to say what we want calmly rather than yelling, recognize when we are about to snap because of stress and when it's best to walk away. Toddlers experience stress just as adults do, but they haven't yet learned how to manage it. When they are under stress they may resort to their most basic communication methods to make their feelings known - crying, hitting, biting.
High stress times for toddlers include major life changes such as divorce, a new sibling or starting at a new child care program. But smaller events are also very stressful for toddlers. Transitioning from one activity to another, waiting, sharing and taking turns can all be stressful. And being hungry or tired can lower their tolerance for frustration during stressful events.
What Can You Do?
Look for child care programs that prevent biting by offering enough duplicate toys for everyone, reducing the need to fight over toys. In many programs, children are allowed into the different play areas in small groups. If providers know that they typically send four children to the dramatic play center and the broom is a popular item, look for four brooms. If everyone likes the hats, there should be enough hats in the dress up basket. Anticipating and avoiding potentially frustrating situations that can lead to biting is a key strategy in the prevention of biting in the classroom.
Look for programs that have low child to adult ratios. Having enough staff is another important prevention strategy. In programs with higher ratios ask if they can provide extra staff during high stress times such as late morning and late afternoon when children are hungry and tired. If biting is a problem in your toddler's group and adding extra staff is impossible, perhaps you and other parents can volunteer to come in at high stress times until the problem is under control.
If your child is involved - either doing the biting or being bitten - work with the staff to solve the problem. Set a time to talk with all of the staff that are involved with your child during the day. Your discussions should be kept confidential and your meetings with the providers should be separate from those of the others parents. Biting is a very emotional issue and
Latest Articles