Entering Early Childhood Education presents young children with new situations in their daily lives: being away from family, interacting with those they didn’t know before, and being in a collective environment with its own rules are just a few examples. As they don’t yet understand what they feel, it is common for them to react physically, whether by biting, crying, or even hitting.
Until the age of 3, in addition to the predominant oral phase, children are testing the limits of their bodies. Since they don’t yet master verbal language, they use their newly emerging teeth to express feelings such as affection, euphoria, discomfort, insecurity, or competition for objects or people of reference. In these cases, the team comforts the child who was bitten and shows the one who bit the consequence of their actions. Looking into the child’s eyes and saying phrases like “No, that hurts,” calmly and assertively, helps the child understand that biting is not the best way to express themselves. Additionally, we double our attention to ensure that these episodes, even without the intention to hurt, do not repeat.
For children over 3 years old, who express themselves more clearly with words, we open spaces for dialogue so that, along with the group, the teachers can discuss potential problems in coexistence, propose non-violent ways to resolve them, and reach a peaceful solution. To do this, they use specific strategies, such as asking good questions to the group, and when noticing that more guidance is needed, they direct them to possible solutions.
Autonomy, the time guaranteed for reflection, and work aligned with socio-emotional education go hand in hand in the development of our children.
Ligia Botelho – Pedagogical Director
