Understanding Your Child’s Biting Phase: A Parent’s Guide

As your child grows and develops at Choklits, you might encounter various developmental phases – including biting. If you’ve recently received a notification about your child biting or being bitten, please know that you’re not alone. Today, we’re sharing our expertise to help you understand and navigate this common developmental phase.

Why Do Young Children Bite?

At Choklits, we understand that discovering your child has been biting others (or has been bitten) can be concerning. Our experienced educators recognise that biting typically emerges from your child’s natural developmental process rather than intentional misbehaviour.

Common reasons we observe include:

• Exploring their world through oral sensations (especially during teething)
• Expressing big emotions before having the words to do so
• Feeling overwhelmed by exciting activities or transitions
• Seeking attention or interaction with friends
• Testing cause and effect relationships

Understanding Intentional vs. Developmental Biting

One of the most common concerns we hear from parents is whether their child is “deliberately being aggressive” or if another child is “targeting” their little one. Let us reassure you – biting during early childhood is not about deliberate aggression or targeting specific children.

Young children are still developing impulse control and emotional regulation skills. When a child bites, they’re usually acting on a momentary impulse driven by:

• Immediate feelings they can’t express in words
• A need they don’t know how to communicate
• An overwhelming sensation or emotion
• Natural curiosity about cause and effect

Even when a child seems to bite the same friend repeatedly, this usually indicates a pattern of interaction or proximity rather than targeting. For example, they might regularly play together during times when the biting child feels tired or overwhelmed.

Remember, your child is not “being mean” when they bite, and other children who bite are not “being bad.” They’re all learning important social skills and need our gentle guidance to develop better ways of interacting.

How We Support Your Child at Choklits

Our approach aligns with the Early Years Learning Framework’s emphasis on supporting children’s emotional development and social interactions. Here’s how we create a supportive environment:

Immediate Response

Our educators respond calmly and quickly when biting occurs. We comfort both children involved while clearly communicating that biting hurts. This approach supports Outcome 1 of EYLF: children feel safe, secure, and supported.

Prevention Through Observation

Our team carefully observes potential triggers and patterns. We might notice that biting often occurs:

• During transition times
• When your child is tired
• In busy play spaces
• During specific activities

This knowledge helps us adjust our environment and routines to better support your child.

Supporting Your Child at Home

As partners in your child’s development, we encourage consistent approaches between home and Choklits. Here are practical strategies you can implement:

For Children Who Are Biting

1. Stay calm when biting occurs
2. Use simple, clear language: “Biting hurts. We use gentle touches with our friends.”
3. Offer appropriate alternatives for oral exploration (safe teething toys)
4. Read stories about feelings and using gentle touches
5. Celebrate moments of gentle play and sharing

For Children Who Have Been Bitten

1. Provide comfort and reassurance
2. Help them express their feelings about the experience
3. Support them in setting boundaries with peers
4. Maintain regular routines to help them feel secure

When Will This Phase End?

Most children naturally move beyond biting as their communication skills develop. At Choklits, we see this phase typically resolve as children:

• Develop better language skills
• Learn to regulate their emotions
• Build stronger social skills
• Feel more secure in their environment

Working Together

Your partnership with us is crucial during this phase. We encourage you to:

• Share any changes at home that might affect your child
• Discuss any concerns with your child’s educator
• Maintain open communication about strategies that work at home
• Trust that this phase will pass with consistent support

Moving Forward

Remember, biting behaviour doesn’t reflect on your parenting or your child’s character. It’s a temporary phase that we’ll navigate together, supporting your child’s development of positive social skills.

Want to discuss specific strategies for your child? Book a tour to meet with our educators and see our supportive learning environment in action. For regular updates and parenting tips, follow us on social media.

Have questions about your child’s development? Contact Choklits Child Care – we’re here to support you and your family through every developmental stage.

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Composed by Choklits Owner Matt Reynolds