Taking a Bite Out of Biting

07/14/2008

Asking teachers to follow scripted curriculum is like asking artists to paint by number.
John Spencer

In the Complete Parenting Exchange Library, Exchange has compiled over 180 articles written by Karen Stephens to parents about common challenges of raising preschool children. In the free Exchange article "Biting Among Toddlers and Twos: Responses to Try," Stephens offers this advice:

"Identifying conditions and situations that contribute to biting can help parents and care professionals respond wisely, but it can be tricky. The reasons children bite vary immensely. And in truth, an exact cause is sometimes never pinned down with certainty. We do know that by nature, toddlers and twos strive to get what they want, when they want it. And so they sometimes act out or use aggression, such as biting. Very young children rely on non-verbal communication, rather than verbal language, to express wishes and feelings. And so it’s critical to observe children’s behavior and the conditions that lead to a biting incident. Observation can help us fathom children’s motivations or primary goal.

"Some children may be prone to biting when hungry, tired, overwhelmed, frustrated, or enduring teething pain. Others may bite to get an adult’s undivided attention or to get a toy from a playmate. Biting is also a way for children to exert a sense of power and control. Children sometimes bite out of exploratory curiosity or interest in textures and sensations. They are equally fascinated by cause and effect. And of course, imitation always comes into play with children’s behavior, too.

"Also observe to see if your child bites out of frustration or out of self defense. Reflect on stresses your child may be enduring that may contribute to temper flares. For instance, long-term separation during a parent’s work travel can lower kids’ frustration tolerance. In some cases, it’s the group care environment that contributes to biting. Too few toys, overcrowded conditions, excessive noise, or frequent change in teaching staff whittle away at children’s emotional reserves.

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This week, Karen Stephen's Complete Parenting Exchange Library is on sale at a 20% discount. The Library contains over 180 articles offering advice to parents. The articles are available to you as PDF files on a CD so that you can download and make copies of the articles at any time.

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