Biting can be a shocking behavior for parents, caregivers, and educators to witness, especially when it happens at playdates, at home, and even at school. While it can feel alarming, it’s essential to understand that biting is often a normal part of child development. This blog explores the reasons behind biting, its developmental context, and how to address it effectively.
Why Do Children Bite?
Biting typically occurs in toddlers and young children, usually between the ages of 1 and 3. Here are some common reasons why children might resort to biting:
1. Communication Struggles
At this stage, many children are still developing their verbal skills. They may bite as a way to express frustration, seek attention, or communicate their needs. When words fail them, biting can feel like a more immediate and powerful form of expression.
At Palms Day School we start working with young children to give them skills they need when it comes to communication through building their sign language skills. Check out another one of our blogs, Sign Language Tips and Tricks.
2. Exploration and Sensory Experience
Young children are naturally curious and often explore the world through their mouths. For some, biting is a sensory experience—something they do out of curiosity or to explore textures.
At Palms Day School we try to combat biting as a sensory experience by providing many sensory opportunities for children to explore.
3. Emotional Regulation
Children experience intense emotions that they might not know how to manage. Biting can occur during moments of anger, excitement, or jealousy as they struggle to regulate their feelings.
Palms Day School places a strong emphasis on understanding emotions and working with young children to help guide them through their ever-changing emotions. We have emotion charts, books, and dolls that can help children through this process. We also have a dedicated space, we refer to as places to pause, in our learning studios for children to breathe and work through their emotions with an educator’s assistance.
4. Imitation
Children often learn by watching others. If they see peers or siblings biting, they may imitate that behavior, thinking it’s an acceptable way to interact.
5. Overstimulation or Fatigue
When children are tired, overstimulated, or feeling overwhelmed, they might resort to biting as a reaction to stress. This behavior can serve as a way to cope with their discomfort.
Developmentally Appropriate Responses
Understanding the reasons behind biting can help parents, caregivers, and educators respond appropriately. Here are some strategies to manage and reduce biting behavior:
1. Stay Calm and Assess the Situation
It’s important to react calmly. If a child bites, quickly intervene without shouting or displaying panic. A firm “no biting” can be effective, but ensure your tone remains calm. Assess what led to the biting incident—was it a toy conflict, frustration, or another trigger?
2. Teach Empathy and Communication
Help the child learn appropriate ways to express their feelings. Encourage them to use words to express frustration or anger. Role-playing can be a great way to practice these skills. You can also model empathy by discussing how biting makes others feel.
3.. Provide Alternatives
If a child is prone to biting during play, offer alternative ways to express feelings or frustrations. Provide stress-relief tools, such as fidget toys or soft items they can squeeze. Redirect their energy by engaging them in a different activity when you sense tensions rising.
4. Monitor Play and Social Interactions
Supervise playdates and/or play times closely, especially if you know certain triggers tend to lead to biting. Intervene before situations escalate, helping to guide play and interactions.
5. Be Patient
Biting is often a phase that many children outgrow. While it can be concerning, remember that developmentally, young children are learning to navigate complex emotions and social interactions. With consistent guidance, most children learn more appropriate ways to express themselves.
Biting is a behavior that can be perplexing for parents, caregivers, and educators, but it’s often a normal part of child development. Understanding the underlying reasons and responding with patience and clear communication can help guide children toward more appropriate ways of expressing themselves. With time, most children move past this phase, emerging with better emotional regulation and social skills.
By fostering an environment of understanding and support, we can help our little ones learn and grow, navigating their emotions with grace as they explore the world around them.
For more resources and research on biting, you can visit: