Fun Activities to Stop Preschoolers From Biting
Biting is a common problem among preschool-aged children, and parents and educators need to help curb that behavior before a child moves on to kindergarten. Sometimes biting is a result of fear or frustration, or the aggressive behavior could be the result of a big change for the child, like starting preschool or a new baby in the family.
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Snack and Nap Time
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One of the easiest ways to prevent biting and other aggressive behavior is to make sure preschoolers are not hungry or sleepy. There is often a cause behind aggressive behavior, and if you notice children arguing or yelling at each other, it's time for a snack and a nap. Hopefully when they wake up, they will feel more themselves and they can enjoy the rest of the day bite-free.
One-on-One Time
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Sometimes children bite because they feel jealous of other children or forgotten in the crowd. Especially with children who have older siblings, it is important to give the child time to be the center of attention. Try to spend some time alone with your child at least weekly, and fill that time with his favorite activities or just talking about his day. For preschool teachers, try to give a child who bites a little extra attention during the day. This will help keep the child from feeling jealous towards other kids, which may be causing the aggressive behavior.
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Teach Empathy
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There are many ways to teach empathy and fairness, but you can make it fun by giving the child jobs to complete or participating in charitable activities together. Praise the child for sweeping the floor, for example, and explain how that helps the whole family or class. Take a meal to a sick friend or donate old clothes to a charity, and talk with the child about how this helps a sick or hurt person. During the day, look for opportunities to talk about other's feelings and about your child's feelings.
Teaching Game
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Make a game out of teaching when it is OK to bite. Ask the child to help teach a younger sibling or a favorite toy about biting, which gives him a feeling of responsibility and forces him to think about biting. Guide the child, if needed, through talking about why biting is wrong and when biting is acceptable -- for example, it is OK to bite your food. Look for examples of animals biting in a natural setting, and help the child explain why those animals bite and what they would say if they could talk.
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References
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