Key Questions

Want to know more?

• Why do children bite and show other aggressive behaviors?

• Feeling frustrated.
• Limited ability to communicate with words.
• Feeling threatened.
• Testing limits.
• Experimenting with senses.
• Wanting power and control.
• For older infants, it is part of normal feeding behavior (Example: Nursing or breastfeeding).


For more information on why children bite or show aggressive behavior, see

"Biters: Why They Do It and What to Do About It "(National Association for the Education of Young Children)
http://www.naeyc.org/files/academy/file/BitingArticle.pdf

"Understanding Children: Biting" (University of Iowa Extension Service)
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1529A.pdf

• What elements should be included in the program's procedures/policies for handling aggressive behavior?

• Separating the children involved.
• Immediate attention to the child or caregiver who was hurt.
• Distracting and redirecting the aggressive child.
• Letting the aggressive child know that this behavior is NOT OK.
• Documenting (in writing) if an injury occurred and if first aid or medical attention was given.
• Informing parents of the children involved in the incident.


• Parents of the recipient and the aggressor should both be notified.


• If the problem is chronic, does the program take prompt steps to solve the problem?



• Reviewing what happens before and at the time of the incidents. Caregivers should try to understand the reasons behind a child's behavior, looking first at factors that could be controlled by adults.
• Were there enough adults supervising the children?
• Were caregivers distracted with diapering, serving lunch, getting out cots, etc?
• Was there too much waiting between and during activities?
• Are there enough toys and supplies?


• Looking for, and writing down, the connections between the child's behavior and environment:
• What time of day?
• Does the child bite the same child?
• Are children tired or hungry?
• Does stress trigger aggressive behavior (thunder storm, room is noisy, parent is late, etc.)?


• Planning and implementing behavior management techniques and program changes that may help to reduce this behavior in the future.



• Working with the parents of the aggressive child to obtain professional evaluation and/or services for the child if the aggressive behavior continues after implementing positive behavior methods and program environment changes (listed above).

• What type of training has the staff had on positive discipline techniques and redirecting a child's behavior?

• Ask them to show you how they would react to a child that bites or hits.



• Have them share with you methods for positive guidance or redirecting the child.



• Have them list the different reasons a child might bite, hit or scratch based on the child's age.



• See Additional Resources section for Positive Guidance Methods.



Note: Biting is a common behavior in the infant or toddler who is expressing a feeling or unmet need without words. It is also one of the first senses through which infants experience their world. Infants and toddlers who are cutting teeth are also more likely to bite. Hitting may be an immature behavior with no intention of causing harm. It is important to keep perspective and work with the caregiver in both helping to reduce the incidents again and teaching children appropriate ways to express themselves.

• Can my child get a disease through biting?

• The risks of transmitting diseases like Hepatitis B virus (HBV) or Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) via biting are extremely low.



• Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)


• Children who carry HBV and do not show aggressive behavior (biting, scratching) can attend child care programs, as long as they are healthy enough to withstand infections (like colds) that are common in child care settings.



• Children who carry HBV should be monitored for behavior or medical problems. If a child breaks the skin of another person (biting or scratching), health care professionals should evaluate the need for vaccination with hepatitis B immune globulin. They will re-evaluate the safety of having the child in the program. Because all children in child care programs should have been vaccinated against hepatitis B as part of their routine immunizations, the risk of transmission is low.


• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)


• Children with HIV should be admitted to child care programs as long as their health, development, behavior, and ability to fight infections is acceptable as determined on a case by case basis by health care professionals, including the child's health provider. These health professionals should have current knowledge about HIV.



• Caregivers must be trained in, and follow, standard precautions that are used to prevent contact with blood (or body fluids that may contain blood).



• In the highly unlikely event that a bite exposes a person (blood to blood contact) to HIV, the U.S. Public Health Service recommends prompt medical follow-up. Medication and other treatment may be recommended.

Note: Confidentiality of children's health records and conditions is important. Knowledge about HIV, HBV or other health concerns is to be shared only on a "need to know" basis, not with every parent in the program.