17 month old hitting

[goodheartedmama]

We went to the beach last week with my whole family. My nephew is quite the hitter. Well, DS came home a hitter now, too. He thinks he's being hilarious when he does it. I'm not sure what's the best way to handle this. (My sister's way of handling it is slapping his hand...gee, wonder where he picked up hitting : )

I've tried redirecting, telling him it hurts our bodies and hurts our feelings, more redirection, etc. He still thinks it's funny. I really think he's just "getting" us, if that makes sense. We pretend to scare each other sometimes, and I think it's just part of his play. Obviously he's not being hateful or intending to hurt people at this age.

[dovey]

My 14 mo. old dd has just started doing similar hitting. She thinks it's hilarious when I react to it just like your son. (As she does when I freak out with her putting poisonous plants in her mouth, or pulling my hair.) I think it might be something about this early toddler age. Maybe the babes are so excited that they're learning to communicate, that they consider this form of communication like a game? I don't know. I've seen other babies around this age have similar issues.

About the hitting.....I haven't completly decided how to deal with it. I'd be interested to see what other people have to say. Somehow, though, I don't feel like making a big deal out of it. simply because it's done more to get somebody's attention, rather than trying to hurt a person. So far, when she hits I take it as a clue that I need to get involved with the situation more closely, like when she REALLY wants a toy that her brother is playing with, and I'm off doing something else. Then I stop what I'm doing and intervene, helping her find another toy to play with, or discussing how we'll work out taking turns, etc.

[goodheartedmama]

another question...what about when he hits a playmate? I feel more inclined to need to stop the behavior then (even though that is wrong, huh?)