How to stop toddler from hitting and throwing tantrums | Toddler discipline

I have great news for all mothers who are currently struggling with toddler hitting!

It’s an experiment for them! That’s right, it’s going to pass.

The reason why toddlers hit is because because they don’t know any other way to cope with their feelings. They’re new to this world and they don’t know that there’s other ways to express how they feel. We can’t control how they feel but, we can let them know that they can’t deal with their emotions that way.

If you’re toddler is hitting it doesn’t mean that you are doing something wrong as a mother. It simply means you have to teach them not to do it.  So, keep reading to learn how to stop toddler hitting.

Tips For Moms On How To Stop Your Toddler From Hitting

1) Address it immidiately

If you want your kid to understand that what they did wasn’t okay, you have to address it immediately after it happens.

2) Don’t hit them back

Dr. Robert Sege at Tufts Medical Center in Boston said, “there’s no benefit to spanking“. Hitting can actually cause the behavior to get worse, and your kids can even grow up to be aggressive.

3) Eye contact

Eye contact is a very important non verbal way to communicate. It’s vital for adults when talking to others, it’s a way of showing people that you’re talking to them and that you’re listening. Kneel down and making eye contact with your kids from up close. It will get them into the habit of doing it and it will help them learn how to communicate better with you and others in the future.

4) Communicate

It’s so important to treat your kids like adults when communicating with them. You wouldn’t respond to an adult by saying “because I said so”, so don’t do it to your kid. Help them understand why something was wrong and give them a valid reason to why they shouldn’t do it again. By doing so, the behavior will be less likely to be repeated.

Another way to communicate would be by validating your child’s emotions. Doing this will let them know that you’re not judging them but rather accepting and understanding how they feel and showing them that you care. Then, you can follow up by explaining why what they did wasn’t okay and why they shouldn’t do it again.

5) Make sure they understand

After communicating about the issue, make sure that your toddler was listening and that they understand. You can do this by simply asking “do you understand?” and wait for them to say yes.

6) Make up with them

After having a talk with your little one about something they did wrong, ask for a hug or a kiss. Doing this will show them that you’re not mad or disappointed. You want to be able to communicate with them about anything without them being scared or thinking that they’re in trouble. You just want them to understand that they’re not supposed to do what they did.

Remember…

Teaching your toddler how to stop hitting is not easy at all, it’s going to take time so be patient. And, make sure that you have a talk with them every single time that they do it so they know that it’s never okay. Remember that they are kids and that they actually don’t know any better, it’s our job to teach them what they should and shouldn’t be doing.