Being a parent to a two or three year old is a daunting job. Trying to find ways to deal with a stubborn and willful little toddler can be exasperating. There are a myriad of behavior struggles with two and three year olds. But probably one of the most dreaded behavior problem parents sometimes are faced with is when their child bites another child. The best thing a parent can do if this happens with their child is to take action quickly. Here are some tips on how to stop your toddler from biting.
Check the child that was bitten.
Of course a parent’s first reaction will be to make sure the child that was bitten is ok. But let your child be aware that that the attention is on the person who deserves it. Demonstrate sympathy and empathy in front of your child so he or she will understand the pain that they caused to the other child.
Take Immediate Action With Your Child
If you are present when your child bites another child, immediately intervene. It is best to be at eye level with your child, so bend down or squat so you are eye to eye. Firmly say that biting people is not allowed. Make sure your toddler knows you disapprove and that you are serious. You should follow by removing your child from the situation.
Promptly Speak with The Other Parents
If the parents are also present, immediately apologize. Reassure the parents that you will be disciplining your child and taking action to prevent this behavior from occurring again. Don’t become defensive if the parents of the child that was bitten are angry and emotional. Words and comments about your child may be spoken in a manner that might hurt and upset you, but you need to let the parents emotionally vent if needed. Be quiet, and when they are done, simply say something to the effect that you understand, and then leave the situation calmly.
If the parents are not present, call them as soon as possible and apologize.
Alert Caregivers
Discuss the biting with babysitters, daycare teachers, and anyone else who cares for your child. Everyone needs to know that the biting incident occurred. There are several reasons to alert other caregivers. One being that when your child is being cared for by someone else, that person will be now know to keep an extra special eye out for potential repeats of the behavior. A second reason to notify all your toddler’s caregivers is to make sure everyone knows the way to deal with the situation should it happen again.
Be Consistent with Consequences
Decide what the consequence will be if the biting occurs again, and follow through. Consistency is vital with deterring any bad behavior, as well as in rewarding good behavior. You might try explaining to you child that if there is no bad behavior at playgroup, he or she will get a sticker or some other reward. Also remind your toddler of the consequence they will have if they bite. Make sure all caregivers also know the consequence for biting and immediately follow through.
Help Your Child Apologize
Whether it on the spot, or at a later time, it is important that your child learn to apologize. Your toddler needs to be aware that he or she hurt someone, and they need to make amends. Help your child to show caring and concern by letting them make a card, draw a picture, or make a special art project and give it to the child that was bitten.
Help Your Child Express Himself
A very common reason children bite is that they do not yet have the verbal skills to express their frustration at a certain situation. So the toddler will often act out his frustration by biting someone. Try teaching your child words to use when they are mad or upset. Have them practice saying ” I am mad!” or ” I want to play with that toy, please.” Practice over and over. And show your child how proud you are of him or her when they use control with their new words instead of acting out.
Distract
If your child is getting upset with another child, try stepping in immediately and distracting your child with another toy or activity.
Supervise very Closely
Whether it is you or another caregiver, make sure there is a close eye kept on your child until you are comfortable in knowing the biting behavior is stopped. If the behavior continues or worsens, you may need to talk with your child’s doctor. The sooner you deal with the biting the better. Biting can become a behavior that is extremely hard to break as your toddler gets older, so do it is crucial you deal with the biting right away and seek outside help if need be.
