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A1-214 Webinar

Biting in ECEC

Biting happens, learn why it happens and how to respond in the moment. Alex will discuss real strategies you can use to manage behaviour in your ECEC service. 
Presented By Alex Weehuizen - First Five Years
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  • No time limits
  • Recording available to watch as many times as you need 

Biting has to be one of the most highly emotive and frequently discussed topics in early years education. This is because biting can really hurt, cause damage to others, and it can create a world of difficulty for educators having to answer to parents when their child has been bitten.

It's not the first bite that gets you. It's the fifth. The pattern you can't quite crack. The dread of walking into the room not knowing if today's the day it happens again, and the mental math you're already doing about how you'll explain it, again, to two different families with two very different sets of feelings.

You're managing a busy room, you're watching every child, and somehow you're still supposed to predict the unpredictable. And when it does happen, you're the one standing at the door at pick-up, choosing your words carefully, hoping today's the day it lands okay.

If repetitive biting has you feeling exhausted, second-guessing yourself, or dreading those family conversations, this session is for you.

Presented By

Alex Weehuizen - First Five Years

Webinar Duration

Approximately 90 minutes

Skill Level

Suitable for beginner to experienced educators and teachers in ECEC settings

What This Session Actually Gives You:

1. The Reframe That Changes Everything
Biting isn't a discipline problem, and it doesn't mean you're doing something wrong. Alex unpacks why biting happens as a normal, developmental, communication-based behaviour so you can stop carrying the weight of "aggression" language that was never fair to you or the child in the first place.
2. Spotting the Pattern Before It Repeats
The real relief in repetitive biting comes from prediction, not reaction. You'll learn how to read what's actually triggering it ( whether that is tiredness, transitions, crowding, frustration, sensory overload) so you're catching it earlier, not just cleaning up after it.
3. What To Actually Do — And What To Actually Say
Practical, in-the-moment responses for both the child who bit and the child who was bitten. Plus the part everyone's wondering how to deal with: how to talk to families on both sides. The ones who are worried about their child being hurt, and the ones who are worried about their child being "that kid" without either conversation leaving you drained or dreading the next one.

Who This Is For
If you've ever felt your stomach drop at "someone got bitten today," or you're managing a room where it keeps happening and you're running out of strategies (and patience) this one's for you.
Certificate of completion provided for your professional learning records
About the presenters

Alex Weehuizen

Parenting Mentor + Educator

Alex is an experienced ECE teacher with over two decades of experience working alongside families. After working as a nanny for 5 years, she completed a Bachelor of Education (ECE) in 2008 and began work as a ECE teacher. After discovering a strong passion for supporting parents on their parenting journey, in 2020 she started working as a Parenting Mentor.

Alex is a certified Postpartum Doula and is a registered Circle of Security Parenting and Classroom Approach facilitator. She recently became a certified Motherhood Studies Practitioner and is fully trained as a Holistic Sleep Coach. In 2021, Alex started Precious Beginnings, a 10-week postpartum and parenting program, with over 200 parents completing the course.

Alex believes that nurturing tamariki in their early childhood experiences profoundly shapes the foundational aspects of their growth and development. Whether collaborating with kaiako or engaging with whānau, Alex highlights the significance of offering tamariki attuned, respectful, and responsive care.

What others said about this webinar:

The whole webinar was amazing and I can't wait to go back to my team and read my notes.
— KIRSTY
This was an amazing webinar and a great refresher for me. I think its so easy to get caught up in the emotions and feelings of "aw no its happened again" but remembering to stay calm and look for the reason behind the biting is a step forward in supporting all the children in your care. thank you :) 
— TANYA
I found the strategies for understanding the reasons behind biting and responding calmly and consistently especially useful. I also really appreciated how Alex used realistic scenarios and provided guidance on how to manage these conversations with parents in a professional and supportive way. Thank you for sharing such relevant and helpful information.
— PRAISE

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