When children bite, what should adults do?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Biting is a common behavior in young children, but it should never be ignored or dismissed. However, punishing severely or biting the child back are not effective strategies and may even increase aggression. Instead, adults should take the incident seriously, but model gentleness and empathy by comforting the child who was bitten and explaining that biting hurts others. It is also important to identify the reason why the child is biting (e.g. frustration, teething, lack of communication skills) and address the underlying issue through positive reinforcement, redirection or teaching alternative ways of expressing themselves.

When Children Bite, What Should Adults Do