NO MORE BITING, PINCHING & HITTING

MANAGE IT WITH THESE HELPFUL TIPS

■ Be calm and firm, saying, “No biting,” or, “Biting hurts.” These are simple phrases that a toddler can easily understand.

■ If your toddler gets upset when he realises he has hurt his playmate, or at the tone of your voice, wait for him to be calm, and then offer alternatives to his behaviour, such as what he could say in a similar situation instead of hurting his friends or you.

■ Help your child express his feelings. Use appropriate words to convey back to him what he is feeling, so that he learns how to express himself appropriately.

■ Offer an alternative physical release for his frustration, like hitting a pillow instead of a person or roaring like a lion instead of shouting.

■ Teach your toddler how to take turns with his toys by modelling this behaviour in your home.

■ Direct your attention to the “victim” first. This will show your toddler that his behaviour is not effective in seeking attention and will reduce the chance of him doing it again.

■ Be consistent in your responses – if you let it slide once, your child will know that his behaviour is occasionally acceptable.

■ Don’t retaliate by biting, pinching or hitting your toddler back. This simply reinforces the negative behaviour, as children are sent the message that physicality is an acceptable way to handle conflict and distress.

■ Watch to see if there are any patterns or triggers. Your child may act out when he is hungry or tired, for example.

■ Limit or eliminate exposure to violence and physical aggression – on TV, and in books and games.

■ Model appropriate behaviour that he can learn from.