|
|
Child Care News for Parents & Carers
July 6, 2016
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome, this week learn what to do about biting in early childhood environments and fascinating research from Flinders University on children and sleep. Happy NAIDOC Week.
|
|
|
|
Though upsetting, biting is unfortunately quite a common occurrence amongst children under three years old. An outlet for children to express their frustration when they cannot yet verbalise their emotions, biting is a worry for both the biter and the victim when it happens. The good news is that, most often, children grow out of it. But what should you do if biting occurs?
Why kids bite
There are several reasons why kids are driven to bite another. Frustration is often a culprit. With too many wants and too many demands, a child can be led to bite to express their upset - over a snatched toy, or a restriction - rather than use words.
This is also true for lack of attention, as biting will always bring significant attention from adults. Stress or feeling powerless can also lead to a child biting, if younger children feel overwhelmed or stressed in certain situations biting can be a release. It could also be something as basic as teething, when applying pressure to the gums is comforting. Some young children also bite out of sheer excitement - even as a result of being happy - the over-stimulation can result in an out-of-control reaction.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The latest sleep study from Flinders University
|
|
|
|
Sleep disruption and sleep problems in babies is one of the leading causes of postnatal depression in new mums. The exhaustion of broken sleep can cause significant family distress, with parents often feeling there is no end in sight.
Sleep is essential for everyone, especially growing children, and there are a multitude of opinions out there on what is best to do to achieve that elusive 'sleep through the night' stage.
In recent years letting babies cry themselves to sleep has been widely criticised, with many baby experts claiming it can cause emotional, behavioural and attachment issues. However, a new study led by Flinders University has found that 'cry it out' methods of sleep training may not cause the upset that was originally being claimed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
