Your child is biting other children. It has to stop. Here is how to make it stop and let your child know it is wrong.
1Tell your child that biting is against the rules, and be firm. Make sure (s)he knows that biting will not get him what he wants. Ever. Sit them down and say this seriously, so they'll know you mean it. Do not make this a planned talk.
2Ask him/her how (s)he would feel if somebody bit him/her. Tell him/her that that is how the other kid(s) feel. Let them know that it's disrespectful, it can be painful, it will not get him/her what (s)he wants, and it's unsanitary.
3Tell your child that biting spreads germs. This may or may not be convincing. Point out that they could get sick from spreading the sickness, and that putting someone else's skin in your mouth is just nasty to begin with.
4If it happens again, tell him that he will not make friends by biting people. Friends are important to most children, so they may be willing to cooperate when necessary.
5Set a light punishment for when your child bites someone. No TV for a week, maybe, or a break from desserts. Choose something that is important to the child so they understand the consequences.
- It might be that the other child is being mean, but, nonetheless, biting is unacceptable. Explain that to your child.
- Ask your child to bite his arm, but not hard. Just to show him. Say, "It hurts, doesn't it?"
- Tell him that if he doesn't like to be bitten, that he shouldn't bite anyone else, because they will bite him back.
- Do NOT bite your child to show him how it feels.
- Be careful, because sometimes your child will bite YOU. Discipline/Punish him if she/he does this.