“Generous. Empathic. Helpful. Caring. Kind. Friendly. Those aren’t usually the first words that come to mind when talking about infants and toddlers. From Biting to Hugging will change the way you see young children and early social development. For much of our history, we have linked social and emotional learning and development. Then, we mostly looked at the emotional domain. Donna and Deanna bring each aspect of social learning and development to life with a story. Dozens of toddlers show us how they help friends who are crying, prefer prosocial to mean behavior in others, and celebrate deeply felt friendships. They show us how they are learning when there are conflicts and hurt feelings. The teachers on these pages display warmth and wisdom as they support the children’s learning. From Biting to Hugging provides a readable but thorough review of current research from around the world. Chapters describe how infants, young toddlers, and older toddlers learn to be social partners, the capacities they bring to caring, the struggles and learning of peer conflicts, and being particularly challenged by peer relationships. Following each of these descriptive chapters is a chapter with strategies for the teacher to support learning. This is the only resource I know that focuses on this fundamental, foundational domain. Everyone working with infants and toddlers should read it.”

Sandy Petersen
Zero to Three

“The new book From Biting to Hugging: Understanding Social Development in Infants and Toddlers, by Donna S. Wittmer and Deanna W. Clauson, draws from current research and decades of best practice to offer practical information on how to support early social development. Written in a clear, easily accessible style, this book encourages the reader first to understand children’s behavior and consider the child’s perspective. Above all, the authors illuminate the unique kind of learning that happens in infants’ and toddlers’ peer relationships. Wittmer and Clauson set the stage for specific strategies by addressing what it takes to foster the development of secure attachments in early care settings. Their practical advice to implement policies that promote the continuity of primary relationships will nicely connect with broader efforts to promote high-quality care for infants and toddlers. Within secure relationships and a climate of care, the book spells out three core strategies infant and toddler teachers can use:  Mind-mindedness, assuming good intentions, and encouraging and supporting peer interaction. Together these strategies can help adults understand the child’s perspective in a positive way and build on the strengths and inclination of individual children to relate to others with respect and care.”

Peter Mangione
WestED

“The authors quote teacher concerns that reflect an earnest desire to help “younger and older toddlers be kinder to each other.” Throughout this book, the authors offer wise, gentle, and practical ideas. And the suggestions in this book will indeed help teachers of very young children to provide the kind of insightful, and patient care that promotes the development of prosocial attitudes and behaviors that will help little ones flourish in group care as well as rejoice their loving care providers.”

Dr. Alice Sterling Honig, PhD
Professor Emerita of Childhood Development, Department of Child and Family Studies, Syracuse University

“This book breaks down different strategies for different behaviors/emotions. When I have a student struggling in the classroom I tried to pinpoint the issue at hand and used this book to learn how to work through the behavior/issue.”

Teachers' Choice Awards

“I learned several new strategies to use with my students when they are struggling in the classroom. I learned that many times my students don't overcome some of their struggles because I need to change how I am approaching it. I realized that I needed to do more documentation so that I could later reflect on the situation. I was able to learn many new strategies to help my students to overcome and empower them.”

Teachers' Choice Awards

“I would absolutely recommend this product to another teacher. The list of social behaviors in the appendix makes this a must-have book, not to mention the more detailed information in the chapters.”

Teachers' Choice Awards

“I will use this resource to help me be better at helping my students to learn from their experiences and how they feel and why they may feel the way they feel in a situation. This book will help me to be more responsive to my students and their feelings and emotions.”

Teachers' Choice Awards