What do preschools do to address biting?

[Anonymous]

My DD (almost 3) has been bit three times this week by the same kid. On Monday she said the biter also bit another kid and that, in addition to biting her, he pushed her down. I know this is a phase a lot of kids go through and I'm trying to be understanding of that, but I am also really frustrated and sad that my kid keeps getting hurt. I don't know how much they can really do, but what should I be expecting in terms of how the school addresses this?

[Anonymous]

If the parents of the bitten kid complain enough, the biter is removed.

[Anonymous]

The child is a known repeat biter, the child that is biting should be in arms reach of the preschool teacher at all times. This is a supervision issue at this point. Do they have a policy on biting? Are the willing to bring in someone to work on the issue?

[Anonymous]

The biter is sent home immediately. Our preschool addresses pushing and hitting to a point and then that kid isn’t sent home too. Apparently the school meets with the parents and the child after school hours and comes up with a plan.

One nice thing about having the kids masked is that there haven’t been any biting incidents.

Address your child’s situation with the teachers and school director immediately. Biting is nothing to take lightly. I saw a child lean over and bite a child on the cheek in a circle time music class once and wouldn’t let go! Bloody and horrifying.

[Anonymous]

OP. Thanks all. I thought I might be overreacting because I always just hear kids bite, but it really seems like the school can be doing more.

[Anonymous]

The biter needs to be by the teacher side, non stop, for a couple of weeks. He needs to be her shadow. This is to avoid any future biting incidents. If he continues to bite, after two weeks of shadowing the teacher, then he needs to leave the program. But the teachers need to do their part for a couple of weeks first.

[Anonymous]

Our daycare rule was kid is sent home for first bite and kicked out for second. Three bites in a week is unacceptable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP. Thanks all. I thought I might be overreacting because I always just hear kids bite, but it really seems like the school can be doing more.

You are definitely not overreacting! Three bites in one week is a huge failing on the school’s part. Call the director immediately and talk to the teacher at pick up.

[Anonymous]

If this were my child I would be very concerned (and kicking up a fuss) because bitten kids sometimes turn into biters themselves.

[Anonymous]

You are all over-reacting. Biting is developmentally appropriate at this age. At our preschool they tell the biter, "we don't bite friends, we only bite food" and distract the child.

I remember being upset because DC #1 was frequently being bit, and then DC #2 turned out to be a biter! Nothing we could do but remind DC #2 about only biting food and wait for it to pass.

[Anonymous]

File a complaint and have a lawyer friend draft a letter to the daycare. Get the child removed asap. Your daycare is way too hands off. Kind of worrisome what else goes on that is hidden from you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are all over-reacting. Biting is developmentally appropriate at this age. At our preschool they tell the biter, "we don't bite friends, we only bite food" and distract the child.

I remember being upset because DC #1 was frequently being bit, and then DC #2 turned out to be a biter! Nothing we could do but remind DC #2 about only biting food and wait for it to pass.

You’re nuts. First, if biting were “developmentally appropriate” the majority of kids will be doing it. It happens but is certainly not “developmentally appropriate”. Second, your school or daycare should have been in constant contact with the biter to protect other children. You were really mislead, PP. Your preschool sucked.

[Anonymous]

Masks would help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Masks would help!

I've heard of daycares using the hats with face shield attached for the chomper phase.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are all over-reacting. Biting is developmentally appropriate at this age. At our preschool they tell the biter, "we don't bite friends, we only bite food" and distract the child.

I remember being upset because DC #1 was frequently being bit, and then DC #2 turned out to be a biter! Nothing we could do but remind DC #2 about only biting food and wait for it to pass.

You’re nuts. First, if biting were “developmentally appropriate” the majority of kids will be doing it. It happens but is certainly not “developmentally appropriate”. Second, your school or daycare should have been in constant contact with the biter to protect other children. You were really mislead, PP. Your preschool sucked.

+1

Even if you don't kick the kid out, the staff needs to be on that kid 100 percent of the time, unless there is a clear pattern, in which case they need to be on that kid during those times when biting is happening. Biting is NOT appropriate; most kids don't bite.