Understanding and Managing Biting Behavior in Children: Tips for a Positive Environment

[Carey]

I’ve faced situations where children in my care exhibited biting behavior. To address it, I prioritize understanding the root cause. Whether it’s teething, frustration, or a need for attention, identifying triggers is crucial. I introduce alternative ways for them to express themselves, like using words or providing teething toys.

[Amber]

I have dealt with kids biting, one child in particular bites whenever he gets excited, so if I observe him starting to get very excited, I try to find an outlet for him. Singing a movement song, starting a running game, and other things often prevent the biting from this child before it occurs. with other children, I do my best to intervene in conflicts between children before it comes to biting. If I notice a conflict between children who tend to go straight to biting, I go in and resolve the conflict. If these children continue to argue over a toy or something, I’ll separate them and have them each pick their own area to play.

[M]

The only biting I had in my class was in a special education setting, so unfortunately most of the recourse we had was keeping an aide near the student at all times

[Sherry]

For younger children who may be biting due to teething discomfort, we provide appropriate teething toys to soothe their gums.

[Sherry]

Great suggestion, Sherry! Providing teething toys can help address the root cause of biting and create a positive environment for young children.

[jill]

I personally have not. We have a high staff to student ratio, and I have not had a child in my class bite however other classroom teachers have had this occur.

[Lori]

I have had biters and aggressive children. I have learned there usually a reason. Mostly not knowing how to communicate. You have to be VERY watchful and ready to dedirect outcomes. As well as helping the biter/aggressor redirect, l talk to the victim with ways to help be safe from theaggressor like use your words, more than crying or screaming, move away with your items, yell for help. I try to help them feel like they have power

[Trainer]

Lori, your approach of understanding the underlying reasons for biting and empowering both the aggressor and the victim is commendable. Redirecting and teaching communication skills are essential strategies for creating a positive environment.

[Elizabeth Pendleton]

I have dealt with kids biting in my care. At first I didn’t understand why this was a thing. But as I learned to observe, I learned there is always a root cause. Now I’ve learned the different reasonings . Now that I know each kid individually I am able to prevent it before it happens and have gotten very aware of which kids I need to remove from the situation before it becomes a big ordeal.

[Barb]

I do not typically have problems with biting, due to the age of the children I teach. However, some of the same skills that are used for other behaviors could apply. Make sure that the child is not experiencing any H.O.T. issues, if so, address them.

[sonette]

I make individual space one of the fundamental components of our routine and it helps prevent biting. Mats are used to work/play with material that signify an individuals space. We constantly reinforce keeping our bodies to ourselves, and proper chair sitting is reinforced which helps maintain distance.

[Trainer]

Sonette, it’s great to hear how you prioritize individual space in your routine to prevent biting incidents. Reinforcing body boundaries and proper sitting is essential for creating a positive environment. Keep up the good work!

[Kaisha]

I have only had one student have a problem with biting, and it usually was when they were upset. They did it very far and few in-between and they expressed that they were sorry right after doing it.

[Emily]

I have only seen biting on a few occasions as I work with students who are between 4-5. I appreciate all of the feedback from everyone, and have enjoyed reading your responses to keep in mind for the future.

[Klarissa]

I have not yet had to deal with biting in my classroom, but it’s good to know how to deal with it in case it does happen.

[Anita]

I have had a toddler who only bit one certain child. We observed and stayed close whenever they played together. We learned that the biter liked to play alone when she played with building toys because the other child liked to wreck what she was building. We provided a private area for her to build and took the other child to a different area.

[Tawna]

I have only dealt with biting once. When a prek students bit another child on the arm. I separated the kids, gave hugs to the hurt child and got him in a separate area. I asked the child who bit why he did it and then explained appropriate behavior when someone doesn’t share something.

[Trainer]

Great response, Tawna! It’s important to address the situation calmly, provide comfort to the hurt child, and teach the biter about appropriate behavior and sharing.