Biting!  Just the thought of a child biting is enough to send most teachers over the edge.  Children biting other children is the most common and the most difficult problem of group child care, especially with toddlers.  It happens even in the best of programs.  

When it happens, it is often scary, extremely frustrating, and very stressful for children, parents, and teachers. You can see it in the eyes of staff and parents when an epidemic of biting breaks out.  A tension hangs over the room like smog, a demoralizing haze of fear, anger and anticipation:  when will it strike again?

Why do children bite?  There are many reasons that children bite.  The list includes, but is not limited to: Investigation, Expression, Teething, Engagement with Peers, Experimentation with Cause and Effect, Dealing with Frustrations, Imitation, & Attention.  We will discuss each on the following pages.