My 22mos. old girl bops kids and dolls on the head, what can I do?

Question

OK, normally my little 22 mos. old girl is very well behaved, but I've noticed something recently that has me a bit concerned. Whenever she sees a girl with a hair done up or a doll she feels she has to bop them on the head. At first I thought it was the hair done up bit but now at the church nursery I work at I have noticed she even bops kids who don't have their hair done up. I give her time outs each time and make her apologize to the kid each time (if it gets bad I take her out to the hall and light but firm tap her hand saying no that isn't nice). I asked the other care takers and they say its normal, but I want other mother's advice, so what can I do to help stop this negative behavior? Thank you for your advice it is appreciated.

Answer 1

I'm going through the same thing with my 22mos old girl. She's been hitting kids on the head since she realized her arms were connected to her and she had control of them. I would love to hear some of the responses since I've been basically doing the exact same thing that you have been doing. My other kids didn't hit this much.  

Answer 2

This may seem odd but have you ever heard the child song..."Little bunny foo foo hopping through the forest scooping up the field mice and bopping them on the head."  Is someone singing this to your toddler.  I use to sing it to my daughter and she started bopping things and people on the head.  We stopped singing the song and with some strong will power on my end she stopped, just like your doing with the punishment.  You have to be careful with songs and nursery rhymes because the power of suggestion is very easy for toddlers to pick up.

Oops I just read the other answers and see someone else sings the same song.  Maybe were on to something.

Answer 3

I was laughing when I read your question since my son does this, not just to girls and dolls though, and he's 22 months old. I think it's a phase, and a cry for attention. He also does it when I'm on the phone or talking to someone. Do you know they rhyme "little bunny foo foo hopping through the forest stopping all the field mice and bopping them on the head." Maybe she's doing it from that.:) LOL...don't worry totally normal, just tell her it's not nice, and it hurts when she does that.