My 2 yr. old keeps slapping my 6 yr. old in the face.What can I do to stop that?

Answer 1

Your 2 year old did not come to this by his or her self. Monkey see monkey do. My 3 year old likes to smack my 5 year old. She is very hyper active and is glad to come running to me saying she was the one who got hit. Well if I didn't see her get smacked I can't correct (unless there are marks or tell tale screams) because she likes to tell stories.

But I can tell you that smacking your child and then telling them not to hit... Is the silliest thing I have ever heard of. Hitting teaches hitting PERIOD!

What I have done is post a set of family rules. (I know 2 year olds cannot read) but I read it to them. My children all know what rule number one is. No Hitting! When this golden rule has been broken, a time out is the first plan of attack. A 2 year old cannot be put in time out for more than 2 minutes. (Goes by years of age)

Tips for mastering the time out. You sit them down in a time out zone or chair. You have to keep them sat down or in that location, no playing around. Correct them how you would want to be corrected. Watch the nanny 911 programs. There are so many different tactics on how to tackle the worst behaved. Take the ideas and change them to suit your own family. It doesn't have to be a picture perfect as they do it on the show.

Reward for no hitting. Punish for hitting.

The best advice is to be firm, fair, and consistent. They will only learn its wrong, after they learn that they will be in trouble every time, regardless of what you are doing or where you are at. I once saw a lady sit her child down in the middle of an isle of a super market. I was shocked but the shock I experienced was nothing compared to the look on the child’s face.

That is about all I have. Don't lose your temper, and keep plugging away at it and you will get them through it.

Answer 2

Although, slapping the 2 yr old back in the face isn't necessarily the best of options. All things in life have to be dealt with some type of psychological understanding. An understanding of doing something, because it gives us power or you do something in reflection of wanting something. In this case it may be both. It seems the child has solved his/her problem by slapping the 6 yr old in the face and received the power or the something he/she needed. So now it is a learned response without any consequence. If you have not delivered any consequence for the hitting then shame on you. It's time to stop trying to be your children's' Best Friend and start being the disciplinarian parent. Children need three things in this cruel world; discipline, structure and love. If the first two are developed the third comes naturally.

Answer 3

Timeout for the 2 year old everytime it takes place. Make sure it is not longer than 5 minutes (5 minutes to a 2 year old is forever)and in an area of the house that noone or nothing is going on. Will take quite a few tries before it works!

Answer 4

2 year olds can understand a lot more than we give them credit for. When it happens, sit him/her down and explain that it's not nice because it hurts their brother or sister, ask if they understand, then redirect their attention to something else. If they do it again right away, put them in time out, explain it again, and then ask them to explain to you why they are in time out. This may take a lot of repetition, but they will get it eventually. It's only a phase. Don't spank them. That will just give mixed messages, have your child trust you less, and will certainly not teach them that hitting is wrong. Good luck!

Answer 5

My first instinct was to ask where the 2yr old is learning that behavior from, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized, he/she is two and they seem to come up with all sorts of goofy behavior to get attention or their way with something. The easiest way to break the habit is to simply say "NO!", in a louder than normal voice the first time. The next time, grab his/her hand firmly (but not too hard please) and again repeat "NO!"...this time making eye contact at his/her level (you may have to crouch down while doing this). Stick with it, don't say anything else for the first few times it happens. A simple "NO!" will do. Then when he/she's not in trouble for hitting, start introducing him/her to "making nice". Consistency is key. The more you stick with it, the easier it'll be to break the bad habit and introduce a better one.

Answer 6

Gosh I think you know the answer to that, never let any child slap another!!! they need punished, If you dont stop this they will carry on this kind of behaviour and will try to take over you next if they arnt already

Answer 7

"Tell him firmly to never slap someone.

it's not right, it's very rude. just tell your 2 yr old that if he does it again, there will be a time out, or other consequences.

And make sure to take time to comfort your 6 yr old! good luck!

Answer 8

for a 2 year old the is a kind of game/play. just tell the kid to stop doing that because its hurts. do it nicely but firmly and looking straight into the eye.

Answer 9

i wish i knew what type of punishment you have already tried... time out, a long why not talk ?? a soft spat on the hand when it happens and a talk ? telling him sister will not play with anyone who hits may help some..... 2 yrs old is a strange and hard age to decide on punishment...... think creative and use the personality of your child as a guide..... God bless

Answer 10

Princessofgimme's answer is very good. I would add to that:
- eliminate hitting from your household, every kind
- emphasize how being hit makes their sibling feel. ex "she is sad and hurting. Can you see she is sad and hurting?"
- remain unfailingly calm and matter-of-fact. Do not raise your voice. Get help if you can't do this, it is very important.
- plan things to keep the young one distracted, and the older one out of reach. Adjusting their environment is a good thing to do!