Age 1
Biting and Scratching
When your child can’t express their feelings in words, they may express them in actions. As they become more able to express their self in words, these actions will gradually disappear.
Why does my child bite and scratch？
If your child bites or scratches another child . . .
When playing at the park or a friend’s house . . .
Let your child know it’s not OK to bite by saying things like, “Look, _______ is crying. It hurts when you bite her,” or “Don’t bite.” To the child who was bitten, say, “I’m sorry. That hurt, didn’t it.” Tell the other child’s parents, too.
Advice
- While acknowledging your child’s feelings and the reason they bit someone, teach them useful words such as, “Can I have that?”, how to control their self and how to share.
- Help children understand each other’s feelings in words by saying things like, “______ wanted to play with that too.”
- Cut your child’s fingernails often.