I don't know if it's nursery school influences or just the toddler inability to control emotions and reactions, but Johan has started hitting and kicking. Not fun. When he does it, Eduardo and I look him in the eye and sternly tell him NO, we don't hit. If he does it again right away, then we say NO and place him on a chair for a 1-minute time out. It seems to work for the moment- after the time out he doesn't hit again, until the next time he's frustrated...
Anyone have any other creative solutions to deal with this problem (that don't involve hitting or kicking him back thankyouverymuch.)
5 comments:
Developmentally speaking, it's totally normal. And you're doing exactly what I tell parents to do when I'm called in to counsel them. When he's older, there are more things to do to build frustration tolerance, but right now he's still little and just needs the limit set clearly. You're doing an awesome job!
I would calmly explain that if he does not stop, Mommy and Daddy will have a new baby who they will love more than they love him and then they will get divorced and it will be his fault.
That's my snarky way of saying it sounds normal, albeit problematic, to me, too. And my way of getting him to run away to his godmother's house and where we'll just punch each other's lights out all day long.
Have you tried biting him?
Inga did/does the same thing. She understood more about why she wasn't supposed to kick/hit/bite as she got older (but still does it). I was nervous about her biting and getting expelled from daycare, but that didn't happen (her teachers swore up and down that she never bit or hit anyone there...I'm not sure I believe it). Raising a toddler is nerve-wracking, isn't it?
-geneva
Your instincts are good - Kristina, you're a great Mom!
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