Thursday, January 17, 2013

The Daycare Incident

When I picked Miss M up from preschool yesterday, one of her teachers said that there had been an incident during the day. She said it so casually that I thought it was going to be no big deal. From the way she phrased it ("there was an incident, but we took care of it"), I also expected that something had happened TO Miss M.. I even turned to look at her, unconcerned because she's a tough little cookie, and she seemed fine.

 That's when the teacher dropped the bomb that she BIT another child during the day, when the child had tried to take a toy from her. I was aghast.

 The teacher had a written report prepared, and I had to sign off on it. Or preschool has a policy that kids who bite multiple times are expelled.

 I at a loss as to how to prevent it from happening again. She is not a biter. She's never been a biter. I have no idea wherein this is coming from.  I am horrified.

 She and I had a long discussion about it last night.  I love this age.  She is both honest, and able to recount what transpired.  Apparently, it was time to clean up, and she was not cleaning up.  The other child took a toy from her, in an attempt to follow the rules and clean up, and Miss M didn't like that, so she bit her.  Argh.  She was very remorseful, but I just don't know where to go from here.

She seems to be having a bit of a hard time lately, and it seems to have been brought on by the fact her sister now attends her daycare.  Before, it was our thing, Miss M and I, but for the next couple of months we have SB there, too, while my husband takes some classes.  I didn't expect this reaction, but she's become clingy and wants only me.  She has had some outbursts at home, too. But nothing like the biting.   Jeesh.

2 comments:

Michele said...

Eeekkk... I have nothing to offer. Maya has never bitten and the few times Bobby did, it was in response to having no verbal communication and trying to tell us something/get our attention. It lasted maybe 2 weeks? EVery now and then if he is in a position he doesnt like, he'll try to bite, but he knows better. And he's never bit a child, just Peter or I (or tried to bite a teacher)

I'm sorry... That's not a happy time. :(

Heather said...

Hopefully it won't happen again. I think Phoebe bit someone once at day care and Liam used to bite, but he grew out of it. I don't remember what we did to stop him. I think time-outs and talking to him about we don't hurt our friends. I think there's a Yo Gabba Gabba episode that reinforced that too. Hang in there. Give her lots of love though. Her life has been turned upside down not being the only one.