hi all,
i've never posted before - please forgive me if i've missed a similar post and i'm asking something totally redundant.
my hunch is this is a situation lots of mamas have dealt with!
my 14 month old little boy has just begun hitting/swatting when he's frustrated.
it's not so much when he's trying to do something that's beyond his skill set and more when something happens that he doesn't want - ie: put down, picked up, put in the carseat, changing the diaper.
it's certainly not every time (not even close) but it's clear that when he's frustrated by what's happening he will either hit me or daddy or, he will swat his arms back and forth in front of him - sometimes hitting/clapping his hands in sheer frustration - but not hitting anyone else.
when he swats his arms to release frustration i totally get it - it's a good release to a build-up of emotion.
but when he hits us - and he's clearly not just playing - i don't quite know how to handle it.
i try to say "please use gentle hands" and show him to gently touch.
or i will say "hitting hurts. please do not hit me".
and i will try to name his emotions: "you're frustrated because you don't want to sit in your stroller".
occasionally if he seems particularly aggressive when he hits i will hold his hands in my hands and firmly (but gently) say "no hitting".
as i'm typing this i'm thinking and feeling like i'm doing what i should be doing... but i wanted to throw this out there to the forum to see what other parents have done in these situations.
i'm not necessarily looking to avoid a tantrum - i know they're inevitable and i believe they're healthy, vital ways of releasing built up stress, frustration and emotion.
i guess i just wanted to see if there are any other gentle parenting techniques for this that i might be overlooking.
thanks, mamas!
xo dylan's mommy
i've never posted before - please forgive me if i've missed a similar post and i'm asking something totally redundant.
my hunch is this is a situation lots of mamas have dealt with!
my 14 month old little boy has just begun hitting/swatting when he's frustrated.
it's not so much when he's trying to do something that's beyond his skill set and more when something happens that he doesn't want - ie: put down, picked up, put in the carseat, changing the diaper.
it's certainly not every time (not even close) but it's clear that when he's frustrated by what's happening he will either hit me or daddy or, he will swat his arms back and forth in front of him - sometimes hitting/clapping his hands in sheer frustration - but not hitting anyone else.
when he swats his arms to release frustration i totally get it - it's a good release to a build-up of emotion.
but when he hits us - and he's clearly not just playing - i don't quite know how to handle it.
i try to say "please use gentle hands" and show him to gently touch.
or i will say "hitting hurts. please do not hit me".
and i will try to name his emotions: "you're frustrated because you don't want to sit in your stroller".
occasionally if he seems particularly aggressive when he hits i will hold his hands in my hands and firmly (but gently) say "no hitting".
as i'm typing this i'm thinking and feeling like i'm doing what i should be doing... but i wanted to throw this out there to the forum to see what other parents have done in these situations.
i'm not necessarily looking to avoid a tantrum - i know they're inevitable and i believe they're healthy, vital ways of releasing built up stress, frustration and emotion.
i guess i just wanted to see if there are any other gentle parenting techniques for this that i might be overlooking.
thanks, mamas!
xo dylan's mommy
