Day Care

» Carla Snuggs - Biting in preschool and childcare.

Hi Meng,
I certainly feel for you and your in-home daycare biting situation.

My article about controlling biting in daycare situations, my article does recommend separating the biter from the victim as a method of controlling biting: "It is also important that childcare providers then protect the "victim" from future aggressive acts by the biter. Dr. Hoffman also instructs that the biter may have to be separated from all of the children until he or she recognizes the harmful nature of biting".

In addition, my article mentions that biting is something that children grow out of: "Biting normally subsides after the second year".

Reacting in a emotionally charged way, i.e., spanking does not seem to be an appropriate solution.

Dr. Hoffman said it best when he advised: "A quick and consistent response from parents and daycare personnel can help children who bite learn to express their feelings in words so that they can become better able to control their behavior".

That said, making sure that the biter is getting the proper attention and outlets for communication, reprimanding the biter, and then separating the biter should biting continue are the most effective channels of controlling biting, since biting cannot be prevented. Biting continues to be a difficult an emotional issue.

the bottom line, however, is that if there is any daycare situation where you feel your child is being harmed and the situation has not been dealt with to your personal satisfaction, remove the child until you feel the situation has been rectified, or find another daycare solution.