Bites on Boy's Face, Body Prompt Investigation

Bites On Boy's Face, Body Prompt Investigation

 

POSTED: 2:27 pm EDT September 16, 2005

UPDATED: 6:54 am EDT September 17, 2005

 

DELTONA, Fla -- Volusia County sheriff's deputies are investigating a biting incident at a Deltona day care where a 2-year-old boy was bitten all over his face and body by a girl, according to a Local 6 News report.

 

Alex Clark was severely bitten more than a dozen times during nap time by a 2-year-old girl at the Tot's Learning Center Daycare.

 

"It looks like a dog took him and shook him," the boy's mother said. "It looks like he was attacked by a dog. His injuries are on his ears, his face, underneath the eye, the corner of the eye, the shoulder and the side," the boy's mother, Jennifer Clark, said.

 

Alex's grandmother Lynn Taylor picked Alex up from the facility and was disgusted by what she saw, according to the report.

 

"It made me sick to my stomach," Taylor said. "It made me nauseated. Who could do this to my grandson? He was scratched up. It looked like it was going to rip his eyeball out."

 

The boy's mother is angry that the accused attacker is still at the day care.

 

"As of yesterday, the child that did this to my son was still at the day-care center," Clark said. "That angers me that that child is still there endangering other children."

 

Alex was released from Halifax Hospital. He is taking steroids and antibiotics and must undergo testing for the next year.

 

 

The day care's owner told a newspaper that the children were supervised and that the school is safe.

 

 

 

The Department of Children and Families is also investigating.

 

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

 

Copyright 2005 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

That's horrible. As a childcare worker I am appalled. I will admit though, that even though when a child is signed up for a facility there is often mention of chronic biters being kicked out it is rarely the case and in one school I worked in, we were told to lie to parents about bites (say they came from anything else) even if the bite broke the skin. A human bite can create more infections than any animal yet we were told lie or loose our jobs (I walked I couldn't do it) plus my kid was inteh class with the biter. It is obvious that a child biting to that exptent needs some serious help the sooner the better.

Not condoning the practice of biting, but you, as a childcare professional, must look into the causes. Hey, kids bite. Shit happens, but a chronic biter has emotional probs.

 

I reacted to a request from my own son for a kiss, and he latched on to my lower lip. Youch. He was three at the time, and not at all happy about his daycare arrangements. He didn't have the verbal skills to come up with an agreeable way to verbalise his angst.

 

We mumbled it over that night, while I nursed a very fat lower lip. He promised to not lip-clamp me again. I promised to not leave him in the daycare centre any longer than was necessary.

True, but regardless of what a childare facility thinks the kid needs, they have a responsibility to the safety of every other kid too and need to promptly expell or suspend a chronic biter (or even if this was a one time case you have to remove the child while you investigate)

True, but regardless of what a childare facility thinks the kid needs, they have a responsibility to the safety of every other kid too and need to promptly expell or suspend a chronic biter (or even if this was a one time case you have to remove the child while you investigate)

 

 

Hmmm, I do agree, but wonder about the biter. If the action is an attention-getter, no isolation tactic will work.

Ya but it will keep al the other kids a lot safer

Ya but it will keep al the other kids a lot safer

 

 

But c'mon Tizzie, you know that most young kids bite. The chronis biter is suddenly a fugitive?

In child care facility, a chronic biter HAS to be separated, especially if they have broken the skin. You have to remember you will have 10-20 other children you have to worry about and since you can't watch them all every second, you have to do what you have to for safety. A LOT of infection can come from a human bite. It's not pretty but it is reality. Do know what it is like to explain to an allready paranoid parent that their child was bit by another kid, let alone have to tell them you KNEW the kid was a biter? Once in a blue moon is expected, but if a kid repetedly breaks skin they should be booted

Did you know that human bites are usually more dangerous than bites from most common household pets? I am not sure why but I'll go look it up a little bit later.

I said it once, I'll say it again. Kids are obnoxious little creeps that should be locked away somewhere.

 

And another person who needs the boot? The so-called supervisors. What the fuck were they doing when the little shitrag decieded to bite the fuck out out of another kid?

 

And lie to the parents about bites? WHAT THE FUCK!? Are the owners scared that they won't be able to get away with bullshit and it will cost them money? Hmmmm...

But c'mon Tizzie, you know that most young kids bite. The chronis biter is suddenly a fugitive?

 

Most young kids bite????

 

Tell me more....

 

How young? Where does this data come from - is this empirical - or have you a satchel of studies to back it up?

 

I ask this because in 11 years of experience with 3-7 year olds and their families, and 3 years of daycare experience, I have actually only known of one biter.

 

Maybe Aussie kids bite....but Canuck kids don't? Doubt it.

 

more data please...........?

I'll be honest with ya, I am not a big fan of kids either. Which is why i have no desire to have one. But I have the stupid irresponsible adults to blame as well for pure neglect and stupidity. IMO, stupidity is THE WORST virus ever to plague mankind and it is killing us in so many ways VERY slowly...

 

If I ever make the mistake of having a child, believe me, he/she will not be like these other people that compromise the "Youth of America" today. And that is the one thing I can promise.

That's horrible. As a childcare worker I am appalled. I will admit though, that even though when a child is signed up for a facility there is often mention of chronic biters being kicked out it is rarely the case and in one school I worked in, we were told to lie to parents about bites (say they came from anything else) even if the bite broke the skin. A human bite can create more infections than any animal yet we were told lie or loose our jobs (I walked I couldn't do it) plus my kid was inteh class with the biter. It is obvious that a child biting to that extent needs some serious help the sooner the better.

 

Wow..lying about bites..an insurance claim nightmare (can you spell, "open your wallet for punitive damages?")...(musical plays) .."litigation Here We come!" I've done a dozen or more invests at daycares, but never for biting incidents..investigated a few dog bite cases...but no kids. From what I've seen, Parents bring suit instantly for ludicrous things - (let's blame the daycare for Timmy hitting his head on the slide)...so I would imagine that the biting incidents would be a forgone conclusion lawsuit wise...and would bring me to the door, looking for signed statements, in a heartbeat.

 

(or would have, prior to hanging up my trenchcoat)

 

So Tizzy...I'm just wondering how the hell ANY daycare got away with keeping any child who bit and broke the skin. You've done daycare longer than what I did - more diaper clad ones...did they really keep biters? How many have you seen? Any suits brought for it?

I am absolutely disgusted that the little girl is still at the day-care. I don't care if she knows right from wrong, or what. She could've taken that little boy's eye out. She's a danger, and NO other parents should have to put up with that. The boy may end up being scarred for life. The day-care should be sued, the supervisor should be fired, and the girl should be taken out of it.

 

Fucking messed up.

Indeed the adults are the problem. Yea sure accidents like kids hitting their heads on playground equipment is ineveitable, but the biting can be prevented. The supvisors are supposed to supervise the kids in the facility. Plain and simple.

Some day cares are overly hesitant to throw children out for any reason. We currently have a child who's got SERIOUS issues. He hits, kicks, pinches students AND teachers. Not to mention has thrown chairs are the staff several times, kicked a pregnant woman in the stomach (she had picked him up to remove him from an unsafe situation), and has knocked over shelves on many occasions. But NOTHING is being done. Yeah, a behavior specialist came in and gave us shit to try, but guess what-NOT WORKING. This has been going on for over a year. And the fuckin' kid is still there.

Some day cares are overly hesitant to throw children out for any reason. We currently have a child who's got SERIOUS issues. He hits, kicks, pinches students AND teachers. Not to mention has thrown chairs are the staff several times, kicked a pregnant woman in the stomach (she had picked him up to remove him from an unsafe situation), and has knocked over shelves on many occasions. But NOTHING is being done. Yeah, a behavior specialist came in and gave us shit to try, but guess what-NOT WORKING. This has been going on for over a year. And the fuckin' kid is still there.

 

that's insane.

Some day cares are overly hesitant to throw children out for any reason. We currently have a child who's got SERIOUS issues. He hits, kicks, pinches students AND teachers. Not to mention has thrown chairs are the staff several times, kicked a pregnant woman in the stomach (she had picked him up to remove him from an unsafe situation), and has knocked over shelves on many occasions. But NOTHING is being done. Yeah, a behavior specialist came in and gave us shit to try, but guess what-NOT WORKING. This has been going on for over a year. And the fuckin' kid is still there.

 

This will be THE ONE occassion where I will agree with KVH and think the kid should be tossed in a cage.

Indeed the adults are the problem. Yea sure accidents like kids hitting their heads on playground equipment is ineveitable, but the biting can be prevented. The supvisors are supposed to supervise the kids in the facility. Plain and simple.

 

Don't be stupid. There is not a human alive that could watch every child every second of the day. In childcare the ratio for three years old is 7:1. That's one teacher for 7 kids. Even for infants 0-9 mos it's 4:1. You want to tell me it's the teacher's fault? You have obviously never been in teh situation. If a kid did something like this, sure someone should have been aware before it went that far, but the kid would have obviously done it at some point to some kid.

 

And Angie!!! OMG I know what you mean. The owners are usualy so out for money they are petrified to loose a kid even if it is to the bennefit of the safety of everyone else. I HATE that about the business

Wow..lying about bites..an insurance claim nightmare (can you spell, "open your wallet for punitive damages?")...(musical plays) .."litigation Here We come!" I've done a dozen or more invests at daycares, but never for biting incidents..investigated a few dog bite cases...but no kids. From what I've seen, Parents bring suit instantly for ludicrous things - (let's blame the daycare for Timmy hitting his head on the slide)...so I would imagine that the biting incidents would be a forgone conclusion lawsuit wise...and would bring me to the door, looking for signed statements, in a heartbeat.

 

(or would have, prior to hanging up my trenchcoat)

 

So Tizzy...I'm just wondering how the hell ANY daycare got away with keeping any child who bit and broke the skin. You've done daycare longer than what I did - more diaper clad ones...did they really keep biters? How many have you seen? Any suits brought for it?

 

 

Yes they kept the biter and continued to tell the parents that the kids did things like smash their hands in teh toy box (once they told a parent the kid fell on their face and got rug burn) I eventually refused to answer any questions about it and just defered teh parents to someone else. I mean this girl was breaking somebody's skin with her teeth on a daily basis. Forget the insurance, what about the possible infections?

Don't be stupid. There is not a human alive that could watch every child every second of the day. In childcare the ratio for three years old is 7:1. That's one teacher for 7 kids. Even for infants 0-9 mos it's 4:1. You want to tell me it's the teacher's fault? You have obviously never been in teh situation. If a kid did something like this, sure someone should have been aware before it went that far, but the kid would have obviously done it at some point to some kid.

 

And Angie!!! OMG I know what you mean. The owners are usualy so out for money they are petrified to loose a kid even if it is to the bennefit of the safety of everyone else. I HATE that about the business

 

Then maybe they're understaffed? There aren't excuses. This wasn't an "accident" - this was negligence. I'd hope that I would notice if one of my students was eating the face of another. Gotta be deaf, dumb and blind to miss that (or understaffed).

I never said the facility wasn't at fault for letting something go that far, I was making the point that there are kids that bite and as soon as it is known, that child should be kicked for doing it repeatedly. I agree that the severity of the biting warrants an investigation into the facity (DUH) I kind of thought that went without saying.

Yes they kept the biter and continued to tell the parents that the kids did things like smash their hands in teh toy box (once they told a parent the kid fell on their face and got rug burn) I eventually refused to answer any questions about it and just defered teh parents to someone else. I mean this girl was breaking somebody's skin with her teeth on a daily basis. Forget the insurance, what about the possible infections?

 

I don't know about this one...I doubt if I could put up with it at all...lying..Jesus H. Don't blame you for dumping out at all.... a call to child services might have even been kind of ...cathartic.

 

I think of the insurance angle only because I worked in this area and I'm just amazed that the victim's parents didn't put in a claim. Once that starts, claimant attorneys get involved, and the biz estab then goes into cover their ass mode. This is just from my experience. Covering the ass might spur dumping the carnivore. The whole thing sounds highly illegal. Man, could I do an invest!! hooohooooo! Man! I just LOVED busting crap like this!

Don't be stupid. There is not a human alive that could watch every child every second of the day. In childcare the ratio for three years old is 7:1. That's one teacher for 7 kids. Even for infants 0-9 mos it's 4:1. You want to tell me it's the teacher's fault? You have obviously never been in teh situation. If a kid did something like this, sure someone should have been aware before it went that far, but the kid would have obviously done it at some point to some kid.

 

And Angie!!! OMG I know what you mean. The owners are usualy so out for money they are petrified to loose a kid even if it is to the bennefit of the safety of everyone else. I HATE that about the business

In Connecticut, the ratio for 3 year olds is 10:1. And yup this kid is three. So we really have our hands full!

I believe ours is 7-8:1 but we always kept at least one extra (always 2 people no matter) and our 3-5 were together so it got a little confusing. THe first school I was in was grossly understaffed (where we had teh biter) Funny but the one I was in that had extra staff had no problems with behaviour (other than a few clasified with aspburgers and the such) As long as the kids had structure and attention from teh adults they were fantastic