Why do children bite and what can we do?
It is not uncommon for toddlers to bite, but it can be difficult to stay calm and know how to respond. This fact sheet give information about why toddlers bite and how to respond appropriately when biting occurs.
When angry or frustrated young children may exhibit aggression. Aggressive outbursts may range from yelling, biting, kicking or even self harm. An outburst may be a means to get attention because the child needs help to manage their feelings. Remaining calm and helping the child (and the other children around them) to feel safe is important, as their lack of self-control in the situation might be frightening to them. After a child has calmed down offer support and guidance to help them express their feelings in an appropriate way and encourage the child to talk to you about what happened.