Young children develop the habit of biting at some point. Although this is normal, it should be stopped at an early age so that biting does not develop into a behavioural disorder. Especially in an environment where many children are together and share the same toys, children often try to assert themselves by biting.

Between the ages of 12 and 36 months, children only use biting as a form of communication. Children have no control over their environment and try to get a reaction by biting. However, a child older than 3 years should have stopped biting. If this is not the case, there is usually an underlying psychological problem.

Reasons for biting: Toddlers bite to provoke a reaction. Older children bite out of aggression. In kindergarten, biting is a way of getting attention, gaining access to a toy or another way of expressing themselves. Children are also often overstimulated in large groups and tend to overreact. In most cases, it helps to calm the children down.

If a child bites, it should not be scolded, but spoken to calmly. Children react more positively to a calm tone of voice than to loud scolding. You should make it clear to the child what they have done wrong, that they have hurt their friend. You can suggest other ways for the child to deal with the situation. The environment in which the child has bitten should also be taken into account. If there are too many children together in too small a space, riots are more likely to occur, as well as if there are not enough toys.