Table of contents:
- Why do children like to bite?
- Curiosity and curiosity
- Needs attention
- Get rid of pain
- Expressing feelings of anger and resentment
- Tips and tricks for dealing with children who like to bite
- Tips for stopping the biting habit in children
As a parent of a toddler who is actively playing, have you faced any of the following situations? While at the playground, suddenly you see your little one biting your playmate's arm until he cried. Panic, you rush to pull him from the "crime scene" and busy apologizing to the mother of the friend. Furthermore, you are amazed. Why does the child like to bite, not only his friends but also his toys at home, and what is the best way to handle this situation?
Why do children like to bite?
Toddlers aged 1-3 years like to bite the closest object. Maybe one time you or your partner is the "victim", at other times it may be your own brother, to your teacher or friends in PAUD. The biting habit in this age range is still relatively normal, and is usually triggered by things such as:
Curiosity and curiosity
Babies' biting habits generally come from a combination of curiosity about their surroundings and their instincts to find food. Coupled with his motor skills and range of motion which are starting to develop rapidly, it will be easier for him to reach an object and put it in his mouth because he wants food.
Needs attention
Curiosity also triggers their curiosity about other people's responses to their actions. Whether the person (you or your partner, for example) gets angry, laughs, cries, or gets shocked when he bites your hand or objects around him.
Get rid of pain
When your baby starts teething, he will bite his fingers or toys more often to ease the pain. Or even the mother's nipple while breastfeeding.
Expressing feelings of anger and resentment
Babies still tend to find it difficult to express their emotions. So when children feel upset or neglected, biting is one way for babies to communicate to get attention.
Tips and tricks for dealing with children who like to bite
The next time you catch your child biting a friend or any object nearby, don't panic. Follow the steps below to solve it.
- Don't immediately scold or yell at him. Stay calm and it's best to immediately move your child away from the person who is being bitten. Getting angry only makes your little one feel frustrated that it becomes even more difficult to handle. This action also applies when you see a child biting into an object that should not be eaten or put in the mouth.
- Calm the child and ask him why he bit other people. Show the results of the bite to the child, so that he understands that his action is hurting someone else. This makes children reflect on their actions and no longer repeat their actions.
- Then, teach the child to apologize to the person who bitten him. Next, let the children return to play with their friends.
Tips for stopping the biting habit in children
The habit of biting in children must be stopped. You can help children to get rid of these habits in the following ways:
- Emphasize the child that biting is bad behavior. Biting a friend can cause them pain, while biting a toy or other object can damage the object.
- Consider choosing playgroup or day care centers with fewer students. This avoids the child feeling neglected so that it is more likely not to bite his friend to get the attention of a supervisor or caregiver.
- Teach children to express themselves, when they are sad, angry, upset, or need attention. This prevents the child from venturing through the bite.
- Get a pacifier to distract him if your child likes to bite objects around him.
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