Home

(7-18 month) Blue's Clues

Welcome!

Hello parents and children,
Welcome to the Blues Room, I am Ms. Kodi! The first day of school is an exciting milestone in your child's life. Your child is embarking on a journey that will lead them on many roads of discovery and learning.
 
As wonderful as this new experience may be, it can also be quite stressful for the young child. New situations and change can, at times, be unsettling for all of us. For many children this may be their fist experience of separation from parents or care givers at home. It is common for even the most outgoing child to be anxious the first day of school. I have provided a few suggestions for assisting your child during this time. Remember, the Infant/Toddler teacher and Infant/Toddler assistant will be available to provide support and assistance; making your child's first school day a happy day.
  • Convey a positive attitude. Young children are aware of your feelings. Your enthusiasm will assure the child that school can be a fun and exciting place.
  • Establish a routine involving both the night before a school day as well as morning preparation. Rituals and routines will add predictability and are comforting in unfamiliar situations.
  • Bring something from home. This is acceptable and often reassuring in helping the child with the initial adjustment to school. This item may be a treasured blankie or even a photo from home.
  • Clearly state to your child where you will be and when you will return. It may also be helpful to discuss what will happen when you are reunited.
  • Maintain a clear good-bye routine. This may include warning the child you are leaving in 3 minutes, a kiss and hug, or a wave from the window. Once you tell your child you are leaving, it is important to follow through. Extending the good-bye with "Ok just one more kiss, and then I really, really have to go." Tends to heighten anxiety rather than relieve it. Avoid sneaking out; this seems to encourage children to become less trusting and makes the second day of school even harder.
 
Again, please know I am here to help make the first day of school a happy transition and we look forward to an exciting and fun year.
 
CHILDREN BITING
Resources For Child Development Pasty Jameson, M. Ed, & Charles Atworth, M. Ed
Toothsome Toddlers and Twos
Biting is common with one-year-old and two-year-old children, and may continue through three years old, especially in the child care setting. You have a group of toddlers together in the same age range who have a limited repertoire of behaviors to express themselves. They bite out of frustration to get what they want, such as a toy from another child It is not unusual for toddlers in child care to be bitten 2-3 times every month; some more often.
 
When biting occurs in child care, an already difficult situation is compounded. If your child bites you or a sibling at home, you can quickly react and deal with the situation. But in the child care setting, caregivers are in full charge of groups of up to 10-20 toddlers with one or two caregivers. One-on-one attention and immediate intervention is difficult. ­
 
The parent of the biter may be concerned that the child will be expelled from the child care center and may also be concerned about what the parent of the child who was bitten may be thinking or feeling. The child care provider has the unpleasant duty of telling the parents of the child who was bitten. Sometimes, the teacher or director must deal with a parent who is less than understanding; some parents may even become angry or unreasonable. Most biting occurs between the ages of 13 and 30 months and should stop around age three. After age three, if the biting continues to happen, it may be a more serious situation that requires professional help.
 
Fighting the Biting
Just because your child is biting does not mean that she is turning into a vampire. However, it's still unacceptable behavior, and there are steps you can take to minimize it.
  • Establish the idea that all biting is forbidden. Whenever your child bites, even if it is playfully, look her firmly in the eye and, in an unfriendly voice, say something like, "No biting," or "Stop biting. That hurts." Toddlers may not realize that their bites cause pain. Keep your redirection short and simple. Avoid lengthy explanations or reasoning; this extra attention may actually reinforce the behavior, making it more likely that your child will bite again.
  • Make sure your child knows that biting is not a game. Never laugh when your child. bites, even if it is done playfully. Also, you should avoid giving playful "love" bites to your child, since she is unable to understand why these bites are OK but her bites are not.
  • Deal with biting as you would any other aggressive behavior. Quickly pull the biter away from the victim. After saying "No biting!" immediately tend to the victim. Make sure the biting does not get rewarded; it is okay for young children to know you are angry with them, so resist the urge to comfort a child who is upset because they were reprimanded. Do not punish biting with other aggressive behavior, such as hitting the child.         .
  • Most importantly, never, never bite the child back! If an adult bites a child, it teaches that biting is OK Remain calm and respectful. Remember, if your child is bitten by another child, it not the fault of the teacher, provider, or facility administrator. It is just as frustrating for them to deal with for them as you-­and probably more. It is considered child abuse or neglect for an adult to bite a child. Often biting continues because it allows a child to get what she wants. Offer your child alternative ways of making her desires known; if she wants the blocks another child has, tell her to point to them and ask for" them nicely, or to ask you to help her ask for them.
  • Model appropriate behaviors at home. Make sure you do not display aggressive behavior toward your spouse, your children, or others. Children most often pick up aggressive behaviors from parents or other people in the home.
  • Praise your child and offer positive reinforcement when she uses the appropriate behavior, i.e., asking for a toy instead of biting the child holding it.
If attempts to intervene are unsuccessful and frequent biting persists for more than a few weeks, a professional screening or assessment is in order. Discuss the behavior with your pediatrician or the developmental specialist (usually the director) at your child care facility.