Little children, headache; big children, heartache. Italian Proverb
Take the Bite out of your Toddler's Biting Problem


The majority of toddlers engage in some biting between their first and third birthdays. Probably the most common reason is that it is one of the few ways of communicating that's effective for them, before verbal skills are developed. However, not all children bite. Some choose other forms of communication, such as grabbing, shoving, or punching.

Another reason toddlers bite is to express frustration, a feeling which is very common with toddlers, because both their communication skills and their motor skills are so limited.

To a young toddler it can be funny to see mommy suddenly bolt upright or for a playmate to start crying. Toddlers may also bite because they're teething or because they put everything in their mouths anyway, so why not someone's arm? It could even be something as simple as hunger.

But how do you teach your child not to bite? Make it perfectly clear that the biting is hurtful and wrong and point out to your child how much pain their biting has caused. Express that biting is wrong and unacceptable and that neither mommy or daddy like it.

If you discover that your child is biting out of frustration, try giving them an alternative to express to people they are having a difficult time. Though language is a difficult task at this age, most toddlers can be taught words that are appropriate for such a situation. For instance, "You need to tell mommy or daddy that you need help and not bite us," or "Show mommy what you need, but don't bite. You'll hurt her if you bite and I know you don't want to hurt mommy, do you?"

Experts agree that parents should try not to give biting so much attention that it becomes an attention-getter. This is true of all behavior that you don't want to see repeated. Firmly tell the child again that there is no biting allowed, that it is wrong, and that it hurts people.

Parenting Resource

There are rules that can be fairly and equitably negotiated with your children as well.

Make sure to spend lots of quality time with your child, and encourage them to become involved in activities that foster cooperation and a sense of accomplishment. Yelling and screaming might have been the way you were brought up and you might think it worked for you, so why wouldn't it work for your kids? Be sure to involve other family members in the process and emphasize the importance of consistency during this process. Indicate to her as best as you can that you'll be with them as soon as possible and then stay true to your word.

High turnover rate in special ed
This post references an article from back in May in the Herald Tribune, but the topic is as timely as ever: Have you ever visited your child’s classroom and noted that the aide your child most liked is long gone, and that there’s at least one new aide, if not two? The Herald Tribune notes that there have been at least four substitute teachers for students in a special ed class, after their teacher was arrested on allegations of child abused in February. The article comments on the high turnover rate of special education teachers: The turnover rate among special-needs teachers is one of the highest in the profession, with Florida losing about 14 percent of the educators in this area each year. The high stress of the job, along with what teachers say is limited support and resour...