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John J. Plomp: You know children are growing up when they start asking questions that have answers.
biting and young children
All people have aggressive feelings. As adults, we learn how to control
these feelings. Children, however, are often physically aggressive – they
hit, bite and scratch others. These behaviors are fairly common and often
appear by the child's first birthday. Parents often struggle over how to
manage their child's aggressive and/or destructive behavior.
While some biting can occur during normal development, persistent biting can
be a sign that a child has emotional or behavioral problems. While many
children occasionally fight with or hit others, frequent and/or severe
physical aggression may mean that a child is having serious emotional or
behavioral problems that require professional evaluation and intervention.
Persistent fighting or biting when a child is in daycare or preschool can be
a serious problem. At this age, children have much more contact with peers
and are expected to be able to make friends and get along.
BITING
Many children start aggressive biting between one and three years of age.
Biting can be a way for a child to test his or her power or to get
attention. Some children bite because they are unhappy, anxious or jealous.
Sometimes biting may result from excessive or harsh discipline or exposure
to physical violence. Parents should remember that children who are teething
might also bite. Biting is the most common reason children get expelled from
day care.
What to do:
- Say "no," immediately, in a calm but firm and disapproving tone.
- For a toddler (1-2 years), firmly hold the child, or put the child down.
- For a young child (2-3 years) say, "biting is not okay because it hurts people."
- Do NOT bite a child to show how biting feels. This teaches the child aggressive behavior.
- If biting persists, try a negative consequence. For example, do not
hold or play with a child for five minutes after he or she bites.
If these techniques or interventions are not effective, parents should talk to their family physician.
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) represents over 6900 child and adolescent psychiatrists who are physicians with at least five years of additional training beyond medical school in general (adult) and child and adolescent psychiatry.
The Facts for Families© series is developed and distributed by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). Facts sheets may be reproduced for personal or educational use without written permission, but cannot be included in material presented for sale.
Free distribution of individual Facts for Families sheets is a public service of the AACAP Special Friends of Children Fund. Please make a tax-deductible contribution to the AACAP Special Friends of Children Fund and support this important public outreach. (AACAP, Special Friends of Children Fund, P.O. Box 96106, Washington, D.C. 20090).
Copyright © 1997 by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.