How do you handle hitting?

[Biscuits & Gravy]

I could use some new ideas because mine are no longer working. DS is 2.5, and hitting is his response to everything lately. We have a lot going on and I take that into consideration, but I have to do something to redirect his anger and frustration. Can you share what you do about hitting?

He knows it hurts, he knows it is not acceptable in our house, but he does it anyway. It seems that he knows it is the one thing that is truly unacceptable, so that is what he constantly tests.

[Susan Kunkel]

Have you tried having a calm down area. Ours is either on a landing or bed depending if ds needs time away. He can read, do magna doodle, leap pad ect. SOme children like to pound on dough or a pillow. If I am being hit I put the child down and say you can not hit andbe with mommy. I also think about what is happenig at home . My Dh is traveling for work this month so when hit I hugged ds very close and said I know you miss daddy. I hope this helps.
Susan

[soccermama]

Originally Posted by Susan Kunkel

Have you tried having a calm down area. Ours is either on a landing or bed depending if ds needs time away. He can read, do magna doodle, leap pad ect. SOme children like to pound on dough or a pillow. If I am being hit I put the child down and say you can not hit andbe with mommy. I also think about what is happenig at home . My Dh is traveling for work this month so when hit I hugged ds very close and said I know you miss daddy. I hope this helps.
Susan

H travels quite a bit in our family, too, and I can certainly tell a difference in DS's attitude when he's gone and I take that into much consideration, but TO's seem to work quite a bit in our family when DS hits or swings his arm like he wants to hit. After the TO is over, I explain to him in a way that he can understand why mommy placed him in TO and that hitting hurts and hurts mommy's and daddy's feelings.