Biting

[playfelt]

When we had the issues with the H1N1 virus parents were so concerned about how I was going to prevent contamination, etc. No I was not going to sanitize my entire daycare three times a day so no one would come in contact with someone else but I did send out a warning of sorts to parents that I was putting an end to toys in the mouth period! I had had my own version of the policy that applied to kids older than about 15 months but I started on the really little ones too. I know that mouthing is one of the ways they learn but there is plenty of time to mouth foods and sippy cups to get textures and their own toys all evening. Mine were off limits. I set aside a few baby toys which I did wash constantly and those were the only toys allowed in the mouth. It took awhile but they all learned. Since then I have been doing it with all kids as they come into care. I do not have to let the kids chew on everything in site. They need to learn that not everything goes in the mouth and that includes my toys, my sand, my playdough, my crayons, etc. When being able to bite was taken out of the play it actually brought down the aggression rather than escalated it and I was surprised by that. Friends aren't food - isn't that the moral we learn from watching Finding Nemo.

[Play and Learn]

Friends aren't food - isn't that the moral we learn from watching Finding Nemo.

Very good - I'm gonna use that one!!!! - Not that I have biters....

[mom-in-alberta]

I know that mouthing is one of the ways they learn but there is plenty of time to mouth foods and sippy cups to get textures and their own toys all evening. Mine were off limits.

I am glad to hear you say this, because it is something that I have been doing as well. I wasn't sure if it was reasonable, but I really think that you are right. I know that it's totally "normal" for kids around 1 to 1 1/2 to mouth anything they can, but I think it's totally possible to begin teaching that only food goes in our mouth. I have a little boy who I think has a bit of an oral fixation (it's as though he NEEDS to have something in his mouth, not just WANTS to). Other than that, the kids have learned pretty quickly and now I have to sanitize a lot fewer toys during the day!!