Biting Podcast from Nebraska Extension in Holt and Boyd Counties

Biting - February 29, 2024- LaDonna Werth and Lisa Poppe - Early Childhood Extension Educators

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• [0:01] Fit and Healthy Kids - An Early Childhood Podcast (with music).
• [0:05] (LaDonna Werth) Hello from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.
• [0:09] This is LaDonna Werth and Lisa Poppe -
• [0:10] Extension Educators in the field of Early Childhood.
• [0:14] We are here to talk littles in your life. (music)
• [0:19] A parent came to me the other day and stated I cannot believe
• [0:23] my adorable little toddler is starting to bite other children.
• [0:27] I don’t know where she got this new habit.
• [0:30] What can I do to stop this behavior!
• [0:33] Lisa can you give us any advice on toddler biting.
• [0:37] (Lisa Poppe) What parents need to know is, it is very common
• [0:41] for a child to bite others at some point during their early years.
• [0:45] When children do not have the skills or the vocabulary
• [0:49] to express their feelings, they might engage in a behavior,
• [0:52] such as biting, as a way to let you know how they feel.
• [0:56] Children might bite for a variety of reasons:
• [0:59] For instance, Frustration – she might bite because she wants her toy back
• [1:03] or because her sister is sitting too close to her.
• [1:06] She might bite because she feels overwhelmed by the proximity
• [1:10] of other children or expectation to share her toys.
• [1:14] She also might bite because biting causes a big reaction
• [1:18] from adults and she is seeking their attention.
• [1:21] So biting can result in adults interacting
• [1:23] with the child or gaining the adult’s attention.
• [1:26] She also might bite to relieve pain from new teeth coming in.
• [1:30] OR she might bite because she does not know how to express
• [1:34] emotions when she is hungry, when she's tired, scared or even anxious.
• [1:38] (LaDonna Werth) What do we need to remember about this new biting behavior?
• [1:43] (Lisa Poppe) Well, the important thing for you to remember when
• [1:46] biting occurs is to stay calm with your actions and your words and
• [1:50] try to figure out the reason WHY the biting happened.
• [1:54] Remember there is a reason for the behavior.
• [1:57] So for example, if your child bites you when your attention
• [2:00] is focused on another person in the room, you might think
• [2:03] your child bit you to get your attention.
• [2:05] Once you understand the reasons why your child bites,
• [2:09] you can teach her a new way to express her feelings
• [2:12] or her requests during situations when she is likely to bite.
• [2:17] It takes time, patience and repeated practice, but
• [2:20] once she has mastered the skills needed to appropriately express
• [2:24] her feelings, biting and other challenging behaviors will decrease.
• [2:29] (LaDonna Werth) Children get frustrated often and they may bite.
• [2:33] What can we do to help them.?
• [2:35] (Lisa Poppe) If your child is biting out of frustration,
• [2:38] you can say, “You are so frustrated.
• [2:41] You want that toy.”
• [2:43] Teach your child simple words such as “mine” or “no.”
• [2:47] Or you can teach some basic sign language or
• [2:50] gestures for things like “help” or “stop.”
• [2:52] It is a matter of giving them the words to use instead of the action.
• [2:57] (LaDonna Werth) How can I help a child when they are playing?
• [3:01] (Lisa Poppe) So, if your child is biting because she lacks play skills,
• [3:06] join her in play by sitting on the floor and coaching her.
• [3:10] She might need guidance to learn and practice how
• [3:13] to join play, take turns, share, communicate with
• [3:16] other children, and ask help if she needs it.
• [3:19] So for example, if another child tries to take her doll,
• [3:23] you might say, “Molly thinks your doll looks fun.
• [3:26] She wants to play too.
• [3:27] Can we show Molly where the other dolls are?
• [3:30] It's as simple as role playing with them.
• [3:33] (LaDonna Werth) When a child gets overwhelmed how can a parent help them?
• [3:38] (Lisa Poppe) If he is biting at times when he feels overwhelmed by anger,
• [3:42] frustration, or disappointment, you can teach him about emotions
• [3:46] and ways to deal with them in order to reduce, or eliminate, the biting behavior.
• [3:51] You can use books about emotional literacy or teaching tools.
• [3:55] You can also help him to identify and label his own emotions or
• [3:59] others emotions as they are being experienced.
• [4:03] (LaDonna Werth) Is biting a common problem with very young children?
• [4:07] (Lisa Poppe) YES! Biting is a common behavior for very young children,
• [4:12] but one that must be addressed immediately.
• [4:15] Children might bite when they feel overwhelmed by an emotion
• [4:19] and do not have the words or skills to tell someone or ask for help.
• [4:23] Parents can watch and learn when their child is likely to bite.
• [4:27] For instance, during play dates with friends,
• [4:30] when left alone with a sibling, or when teething.
• [4:32] When this happens teach your child a new skill to replace the biting behavior.
• [4:38] (LaDonna Werth) Thank you, Lisa, for giving us insight to why very young children bit.
• [4:44] (music) This has been LaDonna and Lisa with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
• [4:49] Until next time, enjoy your family time together.
• [4:53] (music) Fit and Healthy Kids is a co-production of
• [4:56] Nebraska Extension, Georgia Extension,
• [4:58] Kansas State Extension, South Dakota State Extension,
• [5:01] and the Iowa Childcare Resource and Referral.