Ideas for something a toddler CAN hit?

[curiouscanadian]

We're having issues currently with DS being overly agressive (hitting and pulling hair). I've been searching the GD boards for some inspiration and came up with a couple new ideas.

One that I'd really like to try is redirecting his impulse onto something he CAN hit or "attack". I've suggested a pillow once already, but does anyone have any other ideas? I'm thinking of those inflatable toys you can hit that just pop right back up again, but have no idea where to find one, and I don't know if it would be firm enough to be satisfying. It's really become an issue at the Dayhome he attends, so it'd be nice if I could get something to keep there that could be designated as an OK spot to vent his feelings, rather than the other children!

[lifeguard]

Ds is a pretty a rough little guy sometimes. We've found musical instruments (percussion) are great, sticks on the ground or other appropriate surface, hammers (again on an appropriate surface), pillow fights, sometimes we even allow him to hit our open hands. It seems he just has this energy that he needs to hit & be loud sometimes. It's taken a lot of time to channel the energy away from the dogs!

[Chloe'sMama]

I let DD 'hit' our bed, the couch, pillows and her plush toys.  She actually never does it, but it is nice for her to know there is an outlet if she is feeling angry with us or her baby sister.  

[SollysMom]

I tried to teach DS1 to stomp his feet or hit safe objects when he's mad.  It worked, but not how I expected.  Instead of doing it himself, the first time I stomped my feet and said "I'm mad!" he thought it was hilarious and asked me to do it all over the room.  So usually it goes like this...

DS1 gets mad and hits or throws something.

I say "Remember, try saying 'I'm mad!' " (as I stomp my feet)

DS1 laughs and says "Want Mama do on the couch I'm mad!"

I walk to the couch and hit it while saying an exaggerated "I'm mad!"

Repeat process with him requesting and me hitting random soft objects around the room.

DS is laughing and forgot what he was mad about.

It isn't always that easy and I don't always remember to do it, but it often works.

[tanyalynn]

I don't remember what it looked like, but when I was a kid, my mom made me a "Mommy Pillow" that I could hit when I was mad at her.  I think having a specific one, rather than just any, helped me feel like I was directing my anger more, but I can see renaming it the Mad Pillow or the Pounding Pillow or something like that if it's general frustration that you're trying to deal with.  It may sound odd, but my mom's really peace-loving and soothing. 

[Spring Lily]

We got one of those inflatable dolls (Bobo dolls, we always called them), and it was awesome. Definitely firm. my DS especially loved hitting it and wrestling with it. It was a clown and eventually the nose got ripped off and let all the air out so we had to get rid of it.

I also make the toy drum available and offer these soft blocks we have for throwing. We go over the throwing rules when they're not angry (soft blocks only, no other toys), so it's not an issue when they're upset.

[Baby_Cakes]

DD is a hitting machine and we too say she can hit the couch, pillows, etc.  It's a LOT of work and reminding.  I still get hit 98% of the time.  But at least we're trying to help her vent her frustrations!  

[Kreeblim]

We have little wooden swords from the Renn Fest and I hung two old pillowcases full of sewing scraps that were too small to use from two long bottom branches of an apple tree in our back yard.  We told them they can do "sword practice" whenever they want as long as they don't actually hit the tree itself.  

In the spring and summer it has really cut down on the amount of physical fighting between the boys.

[crunchy_mommy]

A drum.