My son seems to want to hit us or himself in the face. He also does this to our cat. He isnt trying to be mean so I dont understand why he is doing it. Help!
2007-05-29 12:39:26 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
At 15 months, I would say that the hitting is the youngster learning his own strength and power. He is experiencing what kinds of reactions will occur when he reaches out at others - even if it appears negative. This is the perfect 'teaching moment'. Take the child's hands firmly in yours and look him straight in the eye. Say "No hitting" firmly. Do not laugh or grin because your son will think this is a "playtime moment". Shake your head from side to side and continue saying "no hitting". Then, massage his hands into yours and tell him that "Mommy is happy when you don't hit". Keep doing that whenever you notice he is showing this aggression. If you continue to do the same pattern, he will soon learn. Children learn by repetitious patterns and your husband or anyone else should learn this process too. I have found that children do respond when direction is consistent. Now, there might be others who would say - 'hit him back' and that would also teach a lesson - but I don't recommend that approach. Be firm, but gentle and consistent.
2007-05-29 12:48:03 · answer #1 · answered by THE SINGER 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I had the same issues with my son and still do sometimes. I told him "no hitting, hitting hurts".... and always made a really sad face because he understood that he hurt me or whoever he was hitting. Also timeouts work well but you have to stay consistent. My son will be two in July and is doing very well not hitting, only when he gets really mad(we are still working on that part...)
2007-05-29 12:52:13 · answer #2 · answered by MichelleLV 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son is almost two, and still does this from time to time. What works for me is to hold his hands when he does it, get him to look me in the eyes, and tell him "we do not hit!" If it is an animal, he does it sometimes with the intention of petting, and in that case I just take his hand and guide it on the pet gently and say "easy!" Hope this helps!!
2007-05-29 18:06:08 · answer #3 · answered by Jacki 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Motor skills! He's learning mobility, but its up to us to make sure he understands when that's appropriate - like during sports or something but not to people or the cat.
The best way I ever got through to children that young is through patience, time out, but also through repetition in telling them not to do it.
Good Luck :)
2007-05-29 12:44:16 · answer #4 · answered by JaneDo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when my children were little and they would hit me. I would take both of their hands into mine- firm but gentle touch - and tell them in a firm (not scary) voice "You may not hit me". You need to be consistent and then redirect the child to another activity.
2007-05-29 15:05:23 · answer #5 · answered by Mia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get down to eye level and tel him no in a Stern tone of voice, you will have to be consistent with this.
2007-05-29 13:23:48 · answer #6 · answered by Granny 1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Girl! You coulda asked me this earlier!:D
With my daughter, I had to take her hand and guide it and say "Gentle" over and over, and that took about a month or two, but she stopped hitting, and Mom's cats loved us for it!
2007-05-29 13:13:57 · answer #7 · answered by MamiZorro2 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
smack him back, just enough he knows it hurts. He'll quit, if he knows it means pay back. That goes for biting too.
My kids loved to test the theroy, until they bite hard, I bite harder, they hit, I hit. It is the only way they know they are really hurting someone or something.
Trust me after raising 5 boys, they still are polite, well mannered young men.
No it is not abuse. It is a caring guidance.
Abuse is Beating the crap out of them, nose bleeds brusing NOT to HAPPEN!
2007-05-29 12:48:43 · answer #8 · answered by spiritwalker 6 · 0⤊ 4⤋