It happens at home, it happens in the child care setting, so what do we do about toddlers biting and hitting?
According to psychologists, aggressive behavior in children from infancy to 3 1/2 years old is "normal".
So what do we know about
aggressive behavior in young children?
Activities to Keep Toddlers Engaged
Keep in Mind, with Toddlers, It's All About Learning Through the Senses...
Toddler-Safe Cloud Dough
4 Cups of Flour
1/2 Cup of Vegetable Oil
Optional: 1 Pkg. Kool-Aid (sugar-free is a great choice), Food Coloring to Match Flavor
Variety of Kitchen Items and Toys that can be used for Scooping and Pressing
Cloud dough is safe for toddlers becuase it's harmless if eaten, and when making it, you can alter the texture to have choices between a smooth (more oil) dough or a gritty texture (less oil), which is a great substitute for sand!
Sensory Walking Mat
Contact Paper
Duct Tape or Masking Tape
Optional: Sand, Pom-Poms, Yarn, Bubble Wrap, Light Sand Paper, Crinkled Tissue Paper, Patches of Textured Fabric
Tape the contact paper, sticky side up, to the floor or carpet. A long strip will allow for a great sensory experience. Leave some space for the toddler to walk along feeling the stickiness of the contact paper. Place optional items along the path for the toddler's feet to experience a variety of textures. Assist toddlers with walking along the sticky mat, reacting to and talking about the textures and reactions.
Toddler-Safe Sensory Bottles
Clean, Dry, Empty Water Bottles and Caps
(Note: I prefer 16.9 oz. recyclable bottles for size and "squeezability")
Glue Gun
Variety of Fill Items Considering the Senses of Sight and Sound:
Various Beans, Yarn, Pipe Cleaners, Colorful Straws, Buttons, Garland, Candies, Colorful Paper Clips, Beads, Colored Pasta, etc.
Peel the labels off of the bottles. Fill bottles with items. (Note: I prefer one type of item per bottle to keep the toddlers interested. This enables the teacher to swap out a variety of bottles and utilize the activity frequently. ) With the glue gun, secure the caps on the bottles such that they cannot be opened. Check bottle caps with each use for safety. Toddlers can squeeze, roll and push the bottle for a tactile sensory experience, shake the bottle for an auditory sensory experience, and they can observe the brightly-colored objects in the bottle for a visual sensory experience.
Resources for Additional Questions Asked
in Response to the Session
How do we deal with children who refuse to nap?
http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/sleep/naps/i-dont-wanna-nap/
Where can we continue to find ideas for activities for toddlers?
http://handsonaswegrow.com/activities/toddler-activities/
http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/category/activities-for-kids/things-to-do-with-a-toddler
http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/activities/