Your toddler bites other kids at playgroup. You feel embarrassed and worried about their aggression.
Child development experts at Cleveland Clinic explain that biting is a normal stage of development for toddlers. Between 1 and 3 years old, children bite for different reasons: teething pain, curiosity, attention seeking, or frustration when they lack words to express feelings.
Your response plan:
Stay calm and use a firm voice: "No biting"
Remove your child from the situation immediately
Comfort the victim first, then address your toddler
Watch for triggers like hunger, tiredness, or overstimulation
Hitting often stems from lack of impulse control and limited language skills. Toddlers hit when they feel frustrated, angry, or want attention but don't have words to ask
Give your toddler language: "You feel angry. Use words. Say 'I'm mad.'" Model gentle touches and praise calm behavior.
Sources:
Was this newsletter helpful? Just reply to this email - we’d love to hear any feedback you have.
Calm Toddler Hacks provided by Chilkibo Publishing - helping families find their calm with trusted strategies