Help! - Hardwick,VT

You are not alone, my daughter is 20 months old and is going through the same thing, if she gets mad she will start to punch her leg or hit me. And she will sit in the corner and do it again a few minutes later. The corner was effective at one time, but now, it doesnt bother her much to sit there. so no i take her favorite bear away for a while and that works now. Sometimes you just need to change your technique. I think its an age thing, most people i've talked to about it say their children went through it to at this age, as well as constantly saying "no." that is another one of my battles with her.

Hi! My daughter was aggressive like this around her 2cd birthday as well. You're doing the right thing, telling him "No, hitting hurts", and removing him from the situation. Just be consistent and make sure youre giving him NO attention during his time out - even turn your back to him if you can. I had to strap mine in her booster seat and leave the room for 2 minutes. You might have to wait it out a bit too... as soon as my daughter got better at communicating (she was a late talker) she stopped the aggression. Maybe it could be frustration at not being able to communicate - it would be like us being in a different country and having no impulse control! :) Anyway, good luck! J.
ps - read the book The Happiest Toddler on the Block - its great!

You- they or whomever can't let him push. You have to stand next to him and prevent him from doing any pushing to begin with. While you are preventing you say "You can say, 'I am mad!" You need to teach him how to verbalize with words instead of doing physical stuff... or then direct him to a pillow or one of those sand things that you can punch (the large blow up weeble wabbles) that he can push instead..

Yes it takes effort... but it is all about redirecting at this stage. Same for hitting... don't let him... block and anticipate the punch... prevent. Give him words and model.

Dealing with agression can be very hard. When did the agression start? You want to look at what may be triggering these actions, did he see others, etc. When he justs mad and hits that's because he doesn't know how to express his feelings. When he's getting mad stop him, hold him tight, and tell him he's getting angry. Explain to him that he shouldn't hit people and if he needs to to hit a pillow. I know it sounds werid but that was some advice from BabyCenter.com Go to the site and look around. There maybe other forms of advice.

If he's hitting when he's frustrated, try to limit those events that trigger the hitting response.

After he has hit another child or person, don't give him all the attention. First talk to the child/person he hit and aplogize, but also make him aplogize even if your the one that has to say it. Then let him know that it was inappriporate behavior and he'll be having a time out. Aviod using the words "no" and "bad". He may be doing the behavior for attention and if he learns it wont get him what he wants he should stop.

Also remember to praise him when he doesn't hit. We often overlook when they do things the proper way. If he gets mad and walks away or goes to hit and doesn't, thank him and tell him that was great.

I hope some of these things can help.

-S.