REALITY BITES

"Children biting other children is at once the most common and the most difficult repercussion of group child care, especially with toddlers," wrote Jim Greenman in his article, "Reality Bites: Biting at the Center - Part 1" in the Exchange Essential: Children with Challenging Behavior - Part 2. 

"Group living is hard — people rub up against each other and children in child care need and want attention from adults, and (sadly) negative attention is more desirable than being ignored.  A bite is powerful and primal:  quick and effective, usually inspiring immediate and dramatic reactions.  Size and strength are not required, even a baby can inflict a very painful bite.  Once present, it is hard to get rid of quickly.  The child often bites again, another child imitates, and soon it's an epidemic.  Parents become very upset about biting, and the problem escalates.

"Biting is a horrifying stage some children go through and a major problem or crisis for the group while it is happening.  Yet at the same time, for the biting child, it's a natural phenomenon that has virtually no lasting developmental significance.  It derives its significance from the group care setting.  It is not something to blame on children or parents (or teachers).  A child who bites is not on a path towards being a discipline problem, a bad person, or a cannibal.  Yes, it is an anti-social act, but an act of an individual not yet equipped to be fully social, just beginning life as a citizen."