Addressing Biting within the Home, Daycare or Childcare Setting
It happens fast: a joyous moment or frustrating situation quickly turns to horror with the shock of a sudden bite. Within the world of early childhood education, biting is a typical stage seen by parents and educators alike. Addressing this behavior in the moment is easier done with tools in your ‘tool belt’ before the behavior occurs. For those with little ones in childcare, daycare, at home, or for educators working in early childhood education, here are some effective and research-based strategies to help steer children towards kinder, safer interactions.
Here at Clover Hill Children’s Center we realize that biting is a common stage among our younger students, but we take our students safety very seriously and we work hard to prevent and effectively work through biting incidents. Call us today to schedule a tour and chat with our staff and educators about how we navigate conflict management as a whole.
Why Toddlers Bite
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) explains that biting is common among infants and toddlers, arising from causes like teething pain, cause-and-effect exploration, oral stimulation, imitation, attention-seeking, self-defense, and difficulty communicating needs or emotions.
Understanding the underlying driver behind biting is vital, not just to halt biting, but for preventing, empathizing and responding effectively.
Research-Based Strategies to Battle Biting
1. Label the Behavior, Not the Child
Zero to Three emphasizes avoiding labeling a toddler as a “biter,” which can reinforce the behavior as part of their identity. Instead, focus on describing the behavior: “Henry bit while he was frustrated in the block corner yesterday.”
We are very intentional with our students and teachers here at Clover Hill Children’s Center. We are very intentional when conflict arises with our students and ready to turn such events into learning moments. Call us today and ask about how we handle conflict and behavior within our center.
2. Prevention through Clear Routines
Research from Better Kid Care (Penn State) outlines five constructive strategies to help guide children away from biting.
- Use predictable routines to reduce tension — transitions and a lack of predictability can make children feel insecure, leading to biting.
- Offer praise for positive behavior — reinforce wanted behavior with affirmative praise.
- Support emotional language and problem-solving — sometimes biting comes from communication frustrations. Focusing on improving communication can help reduce biting incidents.
- Partner with families to share insights and strategies — working together between childcare, daycare, and home can help get a better whole outcome.
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Consistently respond to biting with empathy and clear guidance — Adults’ feelings and behavior is contagious, and per the Clevland Clinic, responding with calm consistency will help significantly. This sets solid expectations of behavior and consequences.
Our daily routines here at Clover Hill Children’s Center help keep us on track and help reduce any uncertainty for our kiddos–which is helpful not just with biting, but within all aspects of early childhood education. Our children know what our days look like and what to expect, helping ease potential fears or concerns about when their next meal will be or when mom is coming back. Contact us and ask for the typical routine for your child’s age group to get an idea of what that could look like!
3. Know the Context: Anticipate When Bites May Happen
As Zero to Three advises that parents, caregivers, and early childhood educators observe the circumstances commonly surrounding biting incidents: What happened before the bite? Who was involved? Where and when did it happen? Paying attention can lead to better proactive prevention.
Our educators here at Clover Hill Children’s Center take great care to know their classroom and students well–paying attention to the general goings on in order to address issues as (or even, before) they arise. Come for a tour and speak with our lovely teachers, meet them and hear how they manage their classrooms.
4. Self-Regulation and Emotional Expression
Children are still learning to self-regulate their emotions (it’s a struggle for adults, sometimes, too!). In helping them develop and practice this important skill, The Raising Children Network suggests that adults should model empathy and label emotions for these little ones. Labeling emotions and feelings in an incident helps introduce appropriate vocabulary and the idea that the said behavior can hurt others. This will introduce empathy into their worlds as well as give them the words to describe their own feelings, helping with their self-regulation down the road.
It is our goal here at Clover Hill Children’s Center to not only encourage strong academics, but a well-rounded strength that encompasses emotional and social development, as well. Schedule a tour today; We would love to show you around and share our passion for teaching and early childhood education with you and your family.
The Final Bite: Continuity is Key
Getting all those involved in a child’s life on the same page has a huge impact on the ability for a lesson to ‘stick,’ Between childcare, daycare, home, parents, and even grandparents or close friends and family, ensure that everyone is aligned on how behavior is to be addressed. The Cleveland Clinic notes that inconsistent responses (like laughing off bites at home) undermine efforts in daycare or childcare environments–having a negative impact on the lesson that is attempting to be taught.
Here at Clover Hill Children’s Center, we know that biting can be very frustrating for all involved–parents, students, teachers, daycare workers, caregivers, and more! We are ready and able to patiently and intentionally work with our students and their family to ensure a safe and comfortable learning environment for all. Let us know how we can support your family and get on the same page for your child’s care. Call us today to schedule a tour and see both learning and teaching in action.