16 Month old scratching other children

[smelli]

My husband said he spoke to the nursery had been concerned that my son (16 months) was scratching the face of a younger child and that he kept going back and doing it again to the child. I can believe it - he tries to pull the nose of his elder brother (7). Obviously the behviour needs to be worked on and we will have to redouble our efforts to stop him.

But what concerned him was the nursery worker described the act as "spiteful". I thought this was harsh: he could have any number of motives for doing it and that a 16 month old doesn't have the emotional capacity for something as complex as spite.

Now, I am worried that she doesn't like it. I am being daft, arent I?

(Ps name change as have posted name of nursery previously)

Very common behaviour, certainly not spiteful, as you say children so young not capable of "spiteful behaviour".

Spiteful would certainly be the wrong word to use. Perhaps it is more 'retaliatory'? Ie, the child has done something your DS has objected to and so has scratched??

Retaliatory is equally as complex for child so young.

Some kids just do it !