My Child May Get Kick Out of School for Biting!

Updated on January 17, 2007
K.H. asks from Baton Rouge, LA
11 answers

My 3 1/2 year old son is biting his friends at school. He bites in anger, I have tried to bite him back, but he doesn't seem to care very much. The one time I did bite him hard enough it left a mark. I have already moved him rom one school because of biting & spiting. Now at the new school if he biting again he will be asked to leave also.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.S.

answers from San Antonio on

I do not know if you believe in some type of reforement but you need to punish or pop thoes lips and then explain why you did what you did and if he do not stop it will get worst. Do not bite him back because he is not learning from you biting him. You are the parent not him do not go to his level.When he get angry find out why and explain that there is know reason for all of that.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.D.

answers from Houston on

Wow, i was just going to suggest the bite back tactic b/c that worked for my kids and other people too. Maybe you should talk to his pedi and see what they say, at this stage he should be out of the biting stage...b/c if hes getting kicked out of school thats serious business and needs to be addressed b/f he starts kindergaren.
Good Luck

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.

answers from Houston on

K.,
I am amazed that you haven't gotten any responses about not biting your son. I don't want to come off as harsh or judgmental, but that's like telling your child not to hit, and then walloping him upside the head! The only way to curb dangerous and unwanted bad behavior in children, is discipline, along with a loving explanation. I do believe controlled hand spanking has its place - when an immediate, serious consequence is needed - but biting should never, never be allowed. My children have always been immediately punished for biting or spitting. If your childcare is not doing a good enough job of curbing this behavior, perhaps you could take some time off work to spend a couple of weeks and working on this situation. Your child should first understand that biting or spitting is NEVER acceptable, and if he does, he will be immediately punished. I have always used time-outs, either facing a wall or alone in their room. If the behavior continues, I also take away favorite toys or privileges like TV, along with the time in their room. Then, once the child has calmed down, they MUST apologize sincerely to the person they hurt.

Good luck and God bless,
M. B

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.R.

answers from Shreveport on

Someone else mentioned this too, but we used hot sauce or lemon juice. Also what we would do is if he would bite we would put a little hot sauce on our finger and put it on his tongue. This doesn't hurt them in any way, it's just hot. If they have a problem with hot sauce, try lemons. Our son liked lemons, so we moved to hot sauce. Cut a lemon up and every time he bites, spits or says something ugly, put the lemon on his tongue. We got the school to use this technique, too. They wouldn't actually put the hot sauce or lemon in his mouth, but if we sent it with him, they would take it out of the bag and show it to him. After a couple of times using it at home, all it took was to show it to him and he would stop immediatey. Worth a shot...

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.L.

answers from Killeen on

hey, when my son was a toddler he was always getting bit. So he started biting. After the first two times he did it, i bit him back just enough for him to really feel it. he never bit again. When my daughter was a toddler she had the bitting down good, she always did it. So my husband bit her back and she still didn't stop. So she did it again to her brother and my hubby bit her again, and she never did it again. so the bitting back method worked for us. I hoped i helped some.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.L.

answers from Lafayette on

My 3 yr old went through a phase of biting when she was mad. I was at my wit's end with her... nothing seemed to work. Towards the end, I told her that animals bite, not people and asked if she was an animal.... I'm not sure if that did the trick or not but she stopped pretty quickly after that. Oh, something else, she was also a late talker; she barely spoke any words until after she was like 2 yrs old. I think that had a lot to do with her biting. It was a way to convey her anger since she didn't have words for it. I also would get down to her level and tell her that I know she's mad/angry, but you don't bite (animals do).
Not sure what else to tell you but I'm hoping you find a working solution!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.C.

answers from Austin on

I used to be a pre-school teacher and I had a child that constantly bit others. His parents did the biting back thing and that did not work. I told his mother to bring in a towel. When he tried to bite or got really frustrated, I would ask him to "sit for a while" to calm down (i didnt call it time out) I would give him the towel that was damp and tell him that he if was upset and needed to bite something he could bite the towel and nothing else. I only had to do this a couple of times. We were on the playground and he had to sit out for biting and I gave him the towel. he decided he would rather play so he threw the towel over the fence and he never bit again. I had my doubts about the method when I first heard about it but it really worked. One other thing...does he have good communication skills? if not, you could try to teach him a few simple signs so that he can express himself when he gets upset. Some children to not have good verbal skills so signing helps them get their needs across. Hope this helps.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.R.

answers from San Antonio on

Hi K. H,
You can try to curb the biting by encouraging him to use his "words". He may say "I hate this" or "I am very angry" or something along those lines but at least he is expressing himself instead of biting. When he uses his words, praise him for using his words and tell him "good job using your words, I know you are angry or mad but use your words". Also encourage the teachers to use this technique as well. Consistancy is the key and patience. Once the biting stops then you can work on what kinds of words you want him to use when he is angry or frustrated. Now the spitting may curb also once you stop the biting thing with the "words" thing, if it doesn't then again encourage him to use words instead of spitting. Boys are more physical in general and like to express anger or frustration with hitting,biting or when they get older fighting to work through issues. Girls tend to be verbal when expressing anger. When you bite him back that just shows him that its o.k. to bite since you are biting instead of showing him the pain he causes someone by doing the action, at this age he still hasn't learned empathy or sympathy for someone else. Have the grandparents do the "using your words" thing also. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.J.

answers from San Antonio on

My son use to do that and what I did may be surprising and a little harsh, but he stopped biting. I used to put jalapeno juice on my arm and when my son was ready to bite me all he did was scratch his tongue and would say that burned and I aske him if he liked that and told me no. Yes the juice burned a little because I had a cut on me but with out that not really. I only put a little and dilute it with some water so it wouldn't burn as much. Ever since then he never did it again. He thinks twice before doing that. Mybe this will woek if he soesn't already like salsa or hot stuff. If he doesn't you can try hot cheetos or chips. It doesnt have to be chile.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.B.

answers from Abilene on

I have a 4 year old boy and when he was 3 he bit alot. my mother in law washed his mouth out with soap after about the 3rd time he didn't bite anymore. he tolds us he didn't want the soap in his mouth anymore.

A.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.H.

answers from Tyler on

My son got kicked out of 2 daycares for biting.He is 2. I tried everything from biting him back to sour foods to spanking. It was bad.He bit when he was angry or too excited, it didnt matter, he bit. The daycare workers worked with me until they couldnt anymore. someone told me that he may feel overwhelmed. And I believe now that was the case. after 2 daycares i knew he would just get kicked out of the next, im a single mom so at this point i was very worried about what to do from here. i had to work and couldnt if he had no daycare. I really didnt want him in a person's home but i had to try it. He has not biten at all since i put him in that home daycare. there are only 6 or 7 at this lady's home were at the first daycare there were 12 to 15 and at the 2nd there were 10 to 12.Of course I made sure she was state approved. he has really excelled too. Right away he started talking more and he goes to the potty all day long at the daycare( and he just turned 2). Im sooo happy for my son and very proud too. What a blessing ...and cheaper too!! Anyway , I hope this helps a little.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches