Need Advice on 2 Year Old That Hits!

Good Morning Heather. I would just like to tell you that I believe you are doing the right thing. And YES, if you are consistent with the disciplinary action you are currently taking all should work out in your favor. Patience of course is the Key ingredient. I have a two yr old and I would do the same. I especially encourage the idea of leaving because of the behavior. When they see that it reaps no reward as they age they simply do begin to understand. If you have a higher power I would also encourage you to ask for guidance through prayer. My sister had the same issue with her 2 yr old and fortunately he has retired that behavior, which she used prayer to get herself through. Trust your technique and trust your instincts. You are the leader and teacher. Your patience and ability to speak to your baby at his level will bring you results. I wish you the best of luck and pray you will feel confident in this challenge. Remember, these things take time and our little ones go through stages just like us........SMILE and GOD BLESS!!!

Hi Heather!
My advice is to keep pulling your child away and telling him that what he is doing is wrong, but don't leave where you are. He is learning that he is in control of what you do and how long you stay. Give him a time out away from the other kids or something, but try not to leave. This will encourage the hitting to continue because he is learning that it gets him something "new", whether it is a new location or whatever. Try also telling him before you get there about your expectations, that he will be respectful to other kids, etc. and if he doesn't do this, what the consequences will be. (time out or whatever else you may do). Good Luck! :)

My son is almost 3(nov 9th, he still hits. Keep up with your discipline routing and it should pass.

It is very normal for a 2 year old to go through an aggressive phase. My daughter will be 2 in a couple weks and is just about over the hitting. She seemed to hit whenever she didn't get her way, if took something from her or if she felt just plain stressed. I never resorted to spanking because I don't believe in physical punishment. So when she would hit I would immediately grad her firmly and remove her from the situation and set her in time-out. On the way to the time-out I would be telling her That hitting is not acceptable etc. Removing her from the situation and letting her cool off didn't seem to be working but all of a sudden she started hitting less and less. It took patience on my part because of course I wanted instant gratification and thought one time-out would be sufficient but it wasn't. I also started noticing her triggers and redirected her before an irruption. You might want to watch for your son and see what gets him to that point or what aggitates him. If he is looking around at other kids and starting to get the hitting itch then I would just say things calmly like "Oh wow look at all these fun kids...let's have some nice fun and share our toys." maybe take him over and show him how to shake their hand and make friends right away instead of greeting them with a slug to their arm. It took a good 3 to get her through it..just be patient.

When we started with the High 5s, my son is 3.5 y.o. and he started to hit too. But we told him the same thing about playing nicely. He has autism so we're not sure if he really understands yet or not since he has a major speech delay. I have a newborn about 5 weeks old and he tends to use his fist or taps him on his head and just the other day trying to pry out his eyeball. So, we tell him no,stop it, or get timeout and he gets on a rampage and starts crying too. When he knows he can't get away with it, he runs back to his playroom, and forgets all about it.

I think you're responding appropriately too. The only change you might make is to not take him away. Meaning, take him away from the other children, but stay at the park, or person's house, or whatever so he gets the feeling he's missing out on something. Taking him away and going somewhere else might not make as much of an impression on him.