When children are very young, it is normal for them to bite others due to their lack of understanding. However, as children grow older, parents will educate them not to bite. If a three-year-old child still exhibits biting behavior, it is necessary to pay attention to it and actively seek the motivation behind the behavior, while patiently educating the child. So, what causes a three-year-old child to bite others? How should we deal with it? Let's take a look.
1. Defensive Behavior
At this age, babies begin to develop a strong sense of self-awareness and know which items belong to them. They often say "mine, mine" and become upset when others touch their belongings, demonstrating a strong sense of protection. When other children touch their faces, they may not like this intimate and friendly gesture and may react with aggressive behavior, including biting, to activate their self-defense mode.
For example, I remember a few days ago when our family of four was eating together. Everyone had their own unique bowl. My second child had her own bowl in front of her, but when my husband moved it to the center of the table, she quickly took it back and placed it in front of her again. When I tried to do the same, she cried and tears streamed down her face. She was thinking, "Why are you all taking my things? Why are you bullying me? I must firmly defend my sovereignty." Seeing her cry, I quickly put the bowl back where it was, and she immediately stopped crying and smiled.
Although children are young, we should still respect them and not force them to share items they do not want to share.
2. Communication Style
Babies are not yet proficient in communicating with other children through language. When other children want to play with them, they may not know how to express themselves and may use physical gestures, such as biting, to show affection. Babies do not understand that biting can cause pain to others, and adults may mistake this as aggressive behavior, but it is actually a spontaneous way of communication for children.
3. Emotional Outlet
If a baby feels neglected by their family members and wants to play with their parents, but the adults are too busy looking at their phones or attending to other matters, the baby may become emotional. If they feel ignored, they may cry or bite their parents to successfully attract their attention. In such situations, parents should make time to play with their child, even if they are busy, to help calm their emotions.
Biting is just a behavior that occurs at a certain stage of development. We should be good at guiding our children and preventing potential problems. Children may not be able to control the force of their bites, and if they injure other children, there is a risk of wound infection. Here are four tips to help you deal with your child's biting behavior.
