Open Discussion Forum

Hi! At my school we are really struggling with biting, scratching, pushing, etc. in the toddler and 2s classes as well as some extreme behaviors in all classes such as screaming/tantrums and power struggles. These behaviors are upsetting for children, teachers and families. I am working with teachers to learn how to manage these behaviors and positively guide and redirect children. I am also working with families to to find the possible root cause of these behaviors such as speech/language delay or sensory processing needs.  What I find so challenging is that we are often looking at behaviors that are developmental so we don't immediately rush to getting an outside evaluation until we observe and try to put some strategies in place. I have parents demanding that children are removed from the class. Of course I cannot talk about other children with parents, and it just puts us in a difficult situation. Have any of you been dealing with a similar situation? How did you handle it?  Thanks in advance!

Hello, I am from the Detroit area in MI.  We have been experiencing the same exact scenarios.  This is all new I add it to the post COVID issues.  If anyone has any suggestions I'd appreciate it!

Hi! At my school we are really struggling with biting, scratching, pushing, etc. in the toddler and 2s classes as well as some extreme behaviors in all classes such as screaming/tantrums and power struggles. These behaviors are upsetting for children, teachers and families. I am working with teachers to learn how to manage these behaviors and positively guide and redirect children. I am also working with families to to find the possible root cause of these behaviors such as speech/language delay or sensory processing needs.  What I find so challenging is that we are often looking at behaviors that are developmental so we don't immediately rush to getting an outside evaluation until we observe and try to put some strategies in place. I have parents demanding that children are removed from the class. Of course I cannot talk about other children with parents, and it just puts us in a difficult situation. Have any of you been dealing with a similar situation? How did you handle it?  Thanks in advance!

I saw someone else suggested sign language for infants/toddlers and I totally agree. The issue with 2 year olds or older ones is that they can't verbalize their emotions so they resort to biting, hitting, kicking, and other physical forms of frustration. This is definitely a normal thing that parents should be expected to understand when they put their child in a group environment at this age. That will help a lot if you do this on the onset of enrollment. Teaching children simple sign language at an early age really helps alleviate a lot of this as I have seen in real studies that we have done at centers. 

Hello, I am from the Detroit area in MI.  We have been experiencing the same exact scenarios.  This is all new I add it to the post COVID issues.  If anyone has any suggestions I'd appreciate it!

Hi! At my school we are really struggling with biting, scratching, pushing, etc. in the toddler and 2s classes as well as some extreme behaviors in all classes such as screaming/tantrums and power struggles. These behaviors are upsetting for children, teachers and families. I am working with teachers to learn how to manage these behaviors and positively guide and redirect children. I am also working with families to to find the possible root cause of these behaviors such as speech/language delay or sensory processing needs.  What I find so challenging is that we are often looking at behaviors that are developmental so we don't immediately rush to getting an outside evaluation until we observe and try to put some strategies in place. I have parents demanding that children are removed from the class. Of course I cannot talk about other children with parents, and it just puts us in a difficult situation. Have any of you been dealing with a similar situation? How did you handle it?  Thanks in advance!

I saw someone else suggested sign language for infants/toddlers and I totally agree. The issue with 2 year olds or older ones is that they can't verbalize their emotions so they resort to biting, hitting, kicking, and other physical forms of frustration. This is definitely a normal thing that parents should be expected to understand when they put their child in a group environment at this age. That will help a lot if you do this on the onset of enrollment. Teaching children simple sign language at an early age really helps alleviate a lot of this as I have seen in real studies that we have done at centers. 

Hello, I am from the Detroit area in MI.  We have been experiencing the same exact scenarios.  This is all new I add it to the post COVID issues.  If anyone has any suggestions I'd appreciate it!

Hi! At my school we are really struggling with biting, scratching, pushing, etc. in the toddler and 2s classes as well as some extreme behaviors in all classes such as screaming/tantrums and power struggles. These behaviors are upsetting for children, teachers and families. I am working with teachers to learn how to manage these behaviors and positively guide and redirect children. I am also working with families to to find the possible root cause of these behaviors such as speech/language delay or sensory processing needs.  What I find so challenging is that we are often looking at behaviors that are developmental so we don't immediately rush to getting an outside evaluation until we observe and try to put some strategies in place. I have parents demanding that children are removed from the class. Of course I cannot talk about other children with parents, and it just puts us in a difficult situation. Have any of you been dealing with a similar situation? How did you handle it?  Thanks in advance!

Hi! At my school we are really struggling with biting, scratching, pushing, etc. in the toddler and 2s classes as well as some extreme behaviors in all classes such as screaming/tantrums and power struggles. These behaviors are upsetting for children, teachers and families. I am working with teachers to learn how to manage these behaviors and positively guide and redirect children. I am also working with families to to find the possible root cause of these behaviors such as speech/language delay or sensory processing needs.  What I find so challenging is that we are often looking at behaviors that are developmental so we don't immediately rush to getting an outside evaluation until we observe and try to put some strategies in place. I have parents demanding that children are removed from the class. Of course I cannot talk about other children with parents, and it just puts us in a difficult situation. Have any of you been dealing with a similar situation? How did you handle it?  Thanks in advance!

Hi Debbie. In my toddler class, we also have some children who are at this stage of biting, pushing, scratching, etc. We have found that books such as "Teeth are Not for Biting", "No Hitting " and "Sharing Time" are very helpful to us and the children. We read such books at story time to them as often as needed during the day and they enjoy listening to the stories as the teachers act them out. Sometimes they themselves start to mimic what we are saying and remember what we are trying to teach them! Some of our parents purchase the same type of books to also read to their children at home when we express our concern. This is very helpful and lets us know parents are doing their part at home. I do find that for some of kids in the class who we know are more likely to exhibit such behaviors, we like to "shadow" them more often throughout the day in order to prevent more incidents. Those who we shadow are still free to enjoy play and learn, but we as teachers have to do our best to be more vigilant in the classroom. It can be very difficult at times to do this. If possible, having an additional teacher to support in the classroom at times can be helpful in having an extra set of eyes.

We also have to realize that for many toddlers at this stage are still learning to express themselves and talk. Many times the biting, scratching and hitting happen out of frustration of not being able to get the words out. At my school our education coaches also encourage us to use sign language in the classroom in order to help children express themselves. Hopefully this has been helpful, as many of us go through it😊

Hi! At my school we are really struggling with biting, scratching, pushing, etc. in the toddler and 2s classes as well as some extreme behaviors in all classes such as screaming/tantrums and power struggles. These behaviors are upsetting for children, teachers and families. I am working with teachers to learn how to manage these behaviors and positively guide and redirect children. I am also working with families to to find the possible root cause of these behaviors such as speech/language delay or sensory processing needs.  What I find so challenging is that we are often looking at behaviors that are developmental so we don't immediately rush to getting an outside evaluation until we observe and try to put some strategies in place. I have parents demanding that children are removed from the class. Of course I cannot talk about other children with parents, and it just puts us in a difficult situation. Have any of you been dealing with a similar situation? How did you handle it?  Thanks in advance!

Sharlene this is very true about their social and emotional skills being in the early development stage.I think the sign language is a very useful tool.I have been working with my 3 and 4 year olds on sign language signs for certain things like being quiet and walking not running and they are quite receptive to it.I guess it all comes down to patience and keep trying😊

Hi Debbie. In my toddler class, we also have some children who are at this stage of biting, pushing, scratching, etc. We have found that books such as "Teeth are Not for Biting", "No Hitting " and "Sharing Time" are very helpful to us and the children. We read such books at story time to them as often as needed during the day and they enjoy listening to the stories as the teachers act them out. Sometimes they themselves start to mimic what we are saying and remember what we are trying to teach them! Some of our parents purchase the same type of books to also read to their children at home when we express our concern. This is very helpful and lets us know parents are doing their part at home. I do find that for some of kids in the class who we know are more likely to exhibit such behaviors, we like to "shadow" them more often throughout the day in order to prevent more incidents. Those who we shadow are still free to enjoy play and learn, but we as teachers have to do our best to be more vigilant in the classroom. It can be very difficult at times to do this. If possible, having an additional teacher to support in the classroom at times can be helpful in having an extra set of eyes.

We also have to realize that for many toddlers at this stage are still learning to express themselves and talk. Many times the biting, scratching and hitting happen out of frustration of not being able to get the words out. At my school our education coaches also encourage us to use sign language in the classroom in order to help children express themselves. Hopefully this has been helpful, as many of us go through it😊

Hi! At my school we are really struggling with biting, scratching, pushing, etc. in the toddler and 2s classes as well as some extreme behaviors in all classes such as screaming/tantrums and power struggles. These behaviors are upsetting for children, teachers and families. I am working with teachers to learn how to manage these behaviors and positively guide and redirect children. I am also working with families to to find the possible root cause of these behaviors such as speech/language delay or sensory processing needs.  What I find so challenging is that we are often looking at behaviors that are developmental so we don't immediately rush to getting an outside evaluation until we observe and try to put some strategies in place. I have parents demanding that children are removed from the class. Of course I cannot talk about other children with parents, and it just puts us in a difficult situation. Have any of you been dealing with a similar situation? How did you handle it?  Thanks in advance!

Hi! At my school we are really struggling with biting, scratching, pushing, etc. in the toddler and 2s classes as well as some extreme behaviors in all classes such as screaming/tantrums and power struggles. These behaviors are upsetting for children, teachers and families. I am working with teachers to learn how to manage these behaviors and positively guide and redirect children. I am also working with families to to find the possible root cause of these behaviors such as speech/language delay or sensory processing needs.  What I find so challenging is that we are often looking at behaviors that are developmental so we don't immediately rush to getting an outside evaluation until we observe and try to put some strategies in place. I have parents demanding that children are removed from the class. Of course I cannot talk about other children with parents, and it just puts us in a difficult situation. Have any of you been dealing with a similar situation? How did you handle it?  Thanks in advance!

Hi! At my school we are really struggling with biting, scratching, pushing, etc. in the toddler and 2s classes as well as some extreme behaviors in all classes such as screaming/tantrums and power struggles. These behaviors are upsetting for children, teachers and families. I am working with teachers to learn how to manage these behaviors and positively guide and redirect children. I am also working with families to to find the possible root cause of these behaviors such as speech/language delay or sensory processing needs.  What I find so challenging is that we are often looking at behaviors that are developmental so we don't immediately rush to getting an outside evaluation until we observe and try to put some strategies in place. I have parents demanding that children are removed from the class. Of course I cannot talk about other children with parents, and it just puts us in a difficult situation. Have any of you been dealing with a similar situation? How did you handle it?  Thanks in advance!

Good morning,

At our Preschool I have separated our classrooms:  PreK 2.0, PreK 2.5, PreK 3.5 and our VPK Programs.  I've seen this has worked for us.  Also, we do have therapist in our Preschool.  We have a Speech, O.T., Physical, and Behavior Therapist.  Having the therapist in our school has definitely helped.  If it's not possible to have the therapist then I suggest you speak to the parent of the children with the behavior problems to get therapy.  We have learned that these behaviors could be sensory.

We have created a discipline report and after the fifth disciplinary report the child will be suspended.  We have found that the parents react immediately and they get the help their child needs.

Hope this information will help.  

Blessings,

Ms. Nellie

Hi! At my school we are really struggling with biting, scratching, pushing, etc. in the toddler and 2s classes as well as some extreme behaviors in all classes such as screaming/tantrums and power struggles. These behaviors are upsetting for children, teachers and families. I am working with teachers to learn how to manage these behaviors and positively guide and redirect children. I am also working with families to to find the possible root cause of these behaviors such as speech/language delay or sensory processing needs.  What I find so challenging is that we are often looking at behaviors that are developmental so we don't immediately rush to getting an outside evaluation until we observe and try to put some strategies in place. I have parents demanding that children are removed from the class. Of course I cannot talk about other children with parents, and it just puts us in a difficult situation. Have any of you been dealing with a similar situation? How did you handle it?  Thanks in advance!