3-Year-old Saying I'm "Hurting" Him

Maybe it does pinch him a bit and he doesn't have the vocabulary to say just that when you pick him up under his arms or grab him to stop him from running in the street.

I think it is normal for them to use words inappropriately simply because they don't know what else to say - maybe his legs "hurt" because they're itchy, or he's bruised, or he has a little scrape.

I would pay more attention to limping or unusual behavior than all the little comments and then he goes off running and playing. I think he's just experimenting or trying to tell you how he feels.

Try explaining to him that he needs to save the word "hurt" for bad ouchies like a cut or something that REALLY hurts him. Help him find other words for how he's feeling.

Sounds like to me that when he likes it, it's okay. When he doesn't want to do whatever it is you are wanting him to do, doesn't want to be hemmed in, or doesn't like not being about to physically do something he wants to do, he calls it "hurting".

I would mention it to the ped in passing, but not in front of your son. Other than that, I would ignore it. If you show too much concern everytime he complains that something hurts, you'll just have more of the same. And don't let him saying not to touch him deter you from the business at hand - change the subject, redirect, get him dressed, into the car, etc. He doesn't get to call the shots with this when it's time to change the routine. I would give him a heads up that you two will be doing "x" next. That might help.

Dawn

My daughter still does this, she's 6...anything she ever said was "hurting" turned out nothing was wrong...sounds like your son is doing the same thing, just checking to see what happens when he says he hurts...making sure your on top of things.

I agree that sometimes they use a word like "hurt" because they don't have any other words to use. My cousin's son would say something tasted "sour" whenever it just tasted bad or wrong to him - it didn't have to actually be "sour". Sometimes picking up under the armpits CAN hurt though!

He might be having some growing pains too. Sometimes that's what I suspect is going on with my daughter who will occasional complain about vague aches and pains and things hurting, like her legs or her back. And maybe some it is just to get attention too.

Totally normal phase - he's realizing that touching can hurt and probably isn't sure what "hurt" really is. So if there is a strong feeling -- like when someone picks him up by his armpits -- he thinks that might be hurt. And his eye might be scratchy. Again, he's noticing that his one eye feels different from the other and tells you that it hurts. Talk to him about the difference in sensations and what to do if something REALLY hurts and he'll work through this phase just fine!

its called growing pains