My toddler hits other children when they get close!?

Question

My son is 2 1/2 & is overall a very good child. He listens well (most of the time) & I teach him right from wrong. He get's time out's if he misbehaves. Anyways, when I take him to a toddler group he sometimes (not always) will hit other children. I especially notice it if they're sitting close to him or go near him. It's generally when they have a story time & we're sitting in a circle & he'll start hitting kids near him. I'm not sure if he's just bored or something. I've repeatedly told him we don't hit & I've talked to him even before we go there. Anyways, the last time he did it I told him if he did it again we were going to leave. He did, so we left in the middle of the story time. I'm just wondering WHY he's like this & what I can do to stop it!!! THANKS!!!

Answer 1

Hi there, another thought is that he likes his own space. Maybe try sitting people just one space over on either side and then if he doesnt hit at the end of the story tell him how proud you are of how nicely he sat next to his friends and slowly move the kids closer each week until he is comfortable.

Answer 2

It sound like you are doing very well at solving this problem. I commend you for being consistent and following through with the consequence of leaving after you warned him. This is very common behavior in 2 1/2 year olds.

One thing I might suggest is teaching him about gentle touches verses hard touches. Whenever you see him start hitting, immediately intervene and say firmly "No, only gentle touches" and show him both by moving his hand for him in a gentle way and them showing him what the gentle touch feels like by touching him in the same way.

This works not only to change the negative behavior, but it is also a distraction from it too, and gives him something more positive to do with his hands.

Answer 3

Well, the right way to correct him is to not use harsh disciplinary, but not too gentle. By the sound of it, you have talked to him A LOT about this, but here's a reminder for you: Kids don't listen. Did you ever notice that? You have to discipline them to do the right thing, for example, the next time he hits someone, do something that'll make him scared and make him understand that he is not allowed to do that, or take away one of his privileges (it has to be one that he really wants/likes). You have to understand that kids that young don't understand reasoning. Sure, you can talk and reason with a 10-year-old, but with 2-year-olds, it's SET INTO ACTION. So try a method that's not too harsh, but not too gentle either, or he won't care. Good luck, contact me if you have more trouble!

<3 Lindy

Answer 4

Making your child 'scared', or 'spanking' him will surely not solve the problem; it might even aggravate it. Please remember, you need to be firm but gentle with your child. You did the right thing when you left in the middle of the story time. Never promise anything to a child which you don't do.

Set rules and regulations whenever your child is with other children with clear set of consequences for infringement. This will stop your child after 2 or 3 occasions when your child knows that you mean business!

Later, talk to your child quietly explaining him why it is bad to hit others. be patient throughout all this and your child will stop hitting other children.

Answer 5

Every time he hits someone, pick him up and spank his naked rear. Be forceful. He will learn at some point.