OMG DD1 has started biting other kids at Pre-school

[cktwo]

Once on friday, once today and she also tried to bite a member of staff today twice. She's never displayed this kind of behavior at pre-school, always saved it for DD2 or DH . To the staff's credit they see it as a sign she is developing but I'm so upset. Is there anything practically I can do to avoid this becoming a regular occurance?

I would nip it in the bud (excuse pun) and find something that she really doesn't like as a consequence for her every time she bites. It could be Time out, or TV turned off, or favourite toy taken away. All that matters is that it is instant, and that she sees it is something that only happens when she bites. If you do this at home enough, it should stop it at school too. I think if you get rid of aggression early, it will save a lot of heartache later on. My DS (asd) was a biter once, and now hasn't bitten for 4 years, after using this kind of approach when he was 3/4 years old.

We do use that approach at home but it hasn't made much difference. It's very hard to give a child with learning difficulties time out because I don't think she understands why she is there. And at nursery it is even harder.

Poor you, my, asd son did this as well. It also seemed to occur at a time when he became slightly more aware of what was going on around him and reacted to it.
The nursery dealt with it by constant vigilance on their part and looking for triigers and signs.
My son wouldn't have understood time out or removal of a treat so that wouldn't have worked for him either, his functioning and awareness just wasn't high enough.
I can say it did improve as his communication improved. Portage went into nursery to help and advise. Has your dd got any support at nursery?

She's got one to one support in the mornings for 2.5 hours. I guess they won't be able to pick up on the warning signs aswell as i can so it will take some time to get better.
DD1 is really signing very well now so hopefully this frustration with lessen in time. Thanks for your words. it's sometimes just nice to know you're not the only one dealing with this shit.

we got our second bite report today too, ck, so i feel your pain (ouch!). am interested in the comments that it is a sign of development. we haven't had any biting problems at home, but ds does chew his clothes a lot, and will sometimes catch my clothes in his mouth. not sure if he's doing the same thing with the other children or actually biting them so will have to get more info from nursery.

it's a horrible feeling though - i'd hate ds to be hurting other children and also worry that the other children might be reluctant to play with him if this continues.

good to hear that your dd is doing well with signing, ck.