Parent tip
Start before you overthink it. No-prep activities work best when you begin while the moment is still recoverable.
Chomp and Stomp It Out
Channel biting and hitting urges into a structured sequence of stomping, clapping, squeezing, and safe biting.
Activity details
Instructions
- When you spot pre-bite signs (clenched jaw, leaning in, excitement peaking), say: 'Let's chomp and stomp!'
- Start stomping together: 'STOMP STOMP STOMP — big dinosaur feet!'
- Move to clapping: 'Now CLAP CLAP CLAP — as loud as you can!'
- Squeeze a cushion: 'Squeeze it tight — tighter — TIGHTER!'
- Offer a safe bite target: a teether, chewy snack, or thick flannel
- Celebrate: 'You used your stomps and your squeezes! Your body feels better!'
- Name the feeling: 'Your mouth wanted to bite. You found a better way.'
What success looks like
Flushed cheeks, big smiles, and a calmer child afterwards. If they want to do it again, you’ve found a winner.
When the biting urge strikes, redirect it with this structured sensory release sequence. Start with big stomps ('Stomp like a dinosaur!'), then clapping hands hard together, then squeezing a cushion tight, and finally biting into a safe chewy toy or crunchy snack. The sequence provides escalating proprioceptive input through the whole body before targeting the oral sensory need specifically. Over time, toddlers learn to run through the sequence independently when they feel the urge building.
Why it helps
Birth to 5 Matters identifies self-regulation as children's developing ability to regulate their emotions, thoughts and behaviour, noting that co-regulation — where adults model calming strategies — is the foundation from which children build this skill. Biting is often driven by proprioceptive seeking — the deep pressure sensation through the jaw that provides neurological calming. This activity provides escalating proprioceptive input through multiple body systems (legs, hands, arms, jaw) before channelling the oral need into a safe target. Teaching the sequence proactively builds the executive function pathway of 'urge → alternative action' that underpins all impulse control development. Zero to Three explains that toddlers need repeated, safe chances to practise handling big feelings before they can manage them on their own.
Variations
- Create a visual 'chomp and stomp' sequence card with pictures for each step that your toddler can point to.
- Add a roaring step: 'ROAR like a lion!' — it opens the jaw wide and releases oral tension.
- Practise the sequence during calm moments so it becomes automatic during heightened ones.
Safety tips
- Ensure the teether or flannel is clean and safe for mouthing.
- Keep the tone energetic and fun, never punitive — this is a tool, not a consequence.
- Watch for frustration if the urge is very strong — sometimes a calm cuddle works better than an active redirect.
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