What do preschools do to address biting?

[Anonymous]

Preschool teacher here! I had a student in my classroom this year that was violent towards others and despite MANY interventions, the child had to be removed from the school. (We wear masks so I have no idea if this child would have bit another child.) Parents complained about the child to the preschool director. It is not the teacher's fault. It is impossible to be one on one with any child during the day. Sometimes someone needs help in the potty, a shoe is untied or a teacher is running an activity at a table. If a child needs one on one supervision in a group setting, then traditional preschool is not a good fit. You definitely need to complain to the preschool director. Please do not blame the teacher. It sounds like this child needs another setting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

I remember when my oldest (now 21) was in preschool, the facility used a leash system for biters. Those who were repeat offenders got placed on the leash and kept within reach of a teacher.

I think that must have worked because I don't recall any kids being ousted for biting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Masks would help!

OP. Unfortunately they don’t require masks for two year olds. I’m pretty unhappy with this place in general and looking for other options.

[Anonymous]

Is this a daycare, OP? Is your child there all day (8+ hours)?

[Anonymous]

Biting May not be appropriate but it is very developmentally normal. The staff are responsible for monitoring the kid and blocking/preventing the behavior. Verbal instructions alone are completely insufficient. School needs better supervision of the biter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this a daycare, OP? Is your child there all day (8+ hours)?

Preschool with aftercare program, so I’m not sure if there’s really a difference. DD is there 6 hours, but would be more if DH and I didn’t stagger our work schedules. We need the childcare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

I remember when my oldest (now 21) was in preschool, the facility used a leash system for biters. Those who were repeat offenders got placed on the leash and kept within reach of a teacher.

I think that must have worked because I don't recall any kids being ousted for biting.

Ahh the good old days.

[Anonymous]

My toddler is going in daycare and has been bitten a couple of times. It seems like a major overreaction to kick a kid out of daycare for this. The daycare should help teach the kid to not bite, not send them to another place where the kid bite new kids. This problem is dealt with like many others: read books about the issue, talk about it a lot (we bite food, not friends), identify and limit triggers, and have an appropriate consequence. That’s what daycares do for…. everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My toddler is going in daycare and has been bitten a couple of times. It seems like a major overreaction to kick a kid out of daycare for this. The daycare should help teach the kid to not bite, not send them to another place where the kid bite new kids. This problem is dealt with like many others: read books about the issue, talk about it a lot (we bite food, not friends), identify and limit triggers, and have an appropriate consequence. That’s what daycares do for…. everything.

Daycares have to handle it because the parents can’t come and get the biter. Preschool sends the child home for the parents to handle it. But regardless, no little kid should beYes repeatedly bit and feel afraid. Even daycares should shadow the biter help me just to stop the biter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this a daycare, OP? Is your child there all day (8+ hours)?

Preschool with aftercare program, so I’m not sure if there’s really a difference. DD is there 6 hours, but would be more if DH and I didn’t stagger our work schedules. We need the childcare.

Is the biter there the same hours? If your school doesn’t do anything to protect your child, you have to pull her out.

[Anonymous]

I would absolutely NOT tolerate my child getting repeatedly attacked. Period. Curious what your pediatrician would say, as this is obviously a health concern.

Parents must expect their children to be safe from physical attacks at school.

[Anonymous]

Yes it is developmentally appropriate. Geesh, way to many perfect parents here. There's more, but you can Google too.

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/stop-biting.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/on-parenting/what-to-do-with-a-preschooler-who-wont-stop-biting/2018/01/09/b1d2a578-f0b5-11e7-b3bf-ab90a706e175_story.html

https://www.webmd.com/parenting/stop-children-from-biting

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/04/15/parenting/toddler/preschool-biting.amp.html

https://www.askdrsears.com/topics/parenting/discipline-behavior/bothersome-behaviors/biting-and-hitting-16-ways-stop-it/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

I remember when my oldest (now 21) was in preschool, the facility used a leash system for biters. Those who were repeat offenders got placed on the leash and kept within reach of a teacher.

I think that must have worked because I don't recall any kids being ousted for biting.

Today someone would complain that it is socially stigmatizing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes it is developmentally appropriate. Geesh, way to many perfect parents here. There's more, but you can Google too.

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/stop-biting.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/on-parenting/what-to-do-with-a-preschooler-who-wont-stop-biting/2018/01/09/b1d2a578-f0b5-11e7-b3bf-ab90a706e175_story.html

https://www.webmd.com/parenting/stop-children-from-biting

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/04/15/parenting/toddler/preschool-biting.amp.html

https://www.askdrsears.com/topics/parenting/discipline-behavior/bothersome-behaviors/biting-and-hitting-16-ways-stop-it/

So are you the parent of a biter or do you earn a living from childcare?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1

The judgy folks on this thread should tone it down. No parent wants their 3 yo to be a biter and this type of behavior is often tied to a language delay. Have a bit of compassion and give the parents some time to see if they can resolve the issue. It sounds like this has been going on for days, not weeks.