What to do to when the child shows behaviour of biting ?
Today’s blog talks about biting as a challenging behaviour. We have seen lot many children with additional needs engaging in this unacceptable behaviour
When we talk about this to a professional , they can claim lot of reasons ,it could be sensory , anxiety, communication for a need not met , aggression or frustration , trying to gain attention , trying to escape from a situation , feeling overloaded or overwhelmed or imitating another child’s behaviour , needs oral stimulation or defending themselves .
I will let you know and understand the do’s and don’ts which might help you not only in this particular challenging behaviour but would also be quite a remedy in other similar situation
Let’s begin now
When your child bites you or you see your child biting someone else , what do you do?
BIG REACTIONS – Stop it
SHAME – Biting is so bad
JUDGEMENT – You are not being nice
BEING THE VICTIM – You are hurting me
PUNISHMENTS – Go to the corner and think about what you did
FEAR – No one will like to play with you now
Read further
When your child bites you or you see your child biting someone else , what should you do actually ?
NEUTRAL REACTION – You bit me okay , but biting hurts
SETTING LIMITS – Its okay to feel this way but I don’t appreciate that you bite me
PROBLEM SOLVING – What can you do when you want to bite , can you use …… or can you do …..
REDIRECTION- When you feel like biting you can take deep breaths , listen to music , squeeze a stress ball
TEACH APPROPRIATE SKILLS –When you are upset , You can say I am mad (so that they don’t do biting in future)
So whenever a child gets into a out of character behaviour , it could a be big communication that they want to make , so instead of scolding your child , think for reasons behind it . Try to tune into it and be curious and don’t take the child’s behaviour personally.
Creative Efforts and Child Behavior Coach – Heena Sahi