A hitting child!!

[tgm1974]

Can anyone tell me if their child still hits.

My son will turn 3yrs old in November and he will hit out whether he is playing or he is annoyed. Even last night when I put him back to his bed at 2.30am he lashed out at me, hitting me in the eye. He will play kick too when Im getting him undressed especially if I have him lying on the bed!

Ive tried to do all the “no its naughty to hit” and even pretended to be hurt (and cry) but to no avail. The funny thing is that when he randomly hits on other occasions he apologises straight away!

Any hints or tips to get this to stop … or shall I let it run with age?

[Answerprancer]

Put him in the "naughty chair/corner" for 2 minutes to think about what he did.

[China Doll]

Agreed with answeprancer. And do it when he's being 'playful' as well, he needs to consistently get the message that your don't tolerate violence towards you.

[woofgang]

yup stop the play and interaction and walk away. If he needs to be made safe before you leave, do it without comment or eye contact.

[LoftyLottie]

Absolutely agree with Woofgang. Make sure he is safe turn round and walk away, saying nothing. You are making a game of it with all the pretend crying etc and he is enjoying the attention.

[tgm1974]

I do the naughty step but he gets up and walks after me. I do keep repeating it but then he starts to laugh .... 20 times later it gets annoying. Ive given my buggy away to the childminder but I know if he is naughty for her she puts him in the buggy!! Maybe I should get a cheap one for this particular reason.

[China Doll]

Perhaps. But as boring and frustrating as it is, you just have to keep picking him up and putting him there until he stops following you and realises you're not going to give in. Otherwise it's just another game I'm afraid.

[LoftyLottie]

Bit old for a buggy at 3!! Why would a child need a buggy at three years old. I still think, like Woofgang that ignoring him is the best option. He is not a toddler, he is three years old and to be honest he could get himself ready for bed with some help and not lying on the bed with you undressing him. He is playing you up and you are treating him like a baby, when he is in fact, a little boy, who is manipulating you.

[China Doll]

When I have children, can I bring them to stay with you lofty? Can you return them when they're fully learned up and ready to go to school! ;0)

[woofgang]

Kids are learning even when adults aren't teaching and what he is learning now is he can win :-( the other thing he is doing is teaching you that he can win which is a REALLY bad idea.

[LoftyLottie]

China. A firm 'No'!

I don't believe in 'babying' children of three years old, they should be reasoning and growing up at this age and have to be socially acceptable. I was never a strict Mum, but I didn't 'baby' my son.

[tgm1974]

I talk about the buggy LOFTIE as it works with the childminder who looks after children of all ages so has the buggies there - I specifically gave it away as he was too old for it so THERE!!

Anyway, the lying on the bed when getting ready for bed is him playing around ... he does help get himself dressed so he is not being babied at all - far from it. I try to encourage him to act for himself with him getting older which he wants to do anyway!

I will just persist with the naughty step!

[Sqad]

Give him a bloody good thrashing and tell him that if he hits you again, he will get another thrashing.

[LoftyLottie]

'So THERE!' Nice!!! And very adult.

I still think it's stupid for a childminder to put a child in a buggy when they are naughty if they are three years old. Is he hitting out when he is at the childminder's?

[LoftyLottie]

Now, why hasn't that surpised me Sqad!! ;o)

[LoftyLottie]

At three years old my child would have laughed at me if I put him on a 'naughty step' and we would have both broken down into giggles!! But then he didn't ever hit me or kick me!!

[Mamyalynne]

I have to say that as others have said it is persistence and continuity that is the key, My youngest grandchild is 3 years and the other week at mealtime I put her on time out and it took 37 returns to the naughty step, it is a nightmare but does pay off.

[Sqad]

Since hitting children, we have evolved a far less violent society than 50 years ago.................(tongue well in cheek)

[Sqad]

37 returns to the "naughty step?"..........tell me that you are pulling my leg.

[Mamyalynne]

I might add that my granddaughter was not hitting but disrupting a meal ( mine of course went stone cold throughout the debacle LOL)

[Sqad]

mamy....LOL...so who was punished?