Consistently and calmly redirect your 21-month-old’s behavior when they start hitting and clearly explain that hitting is not acceptable. Provide them with alternative ways to express their frustration or anger, such as using words or engaging in physical activities. Consistency, positive reinforcement, and teaching empathy will help them understand and develop better ways to communicate and manage their emotions.
So let us take a closer look at the inquiry
As an expert in child development, I understand the challenges that parents face when their toddlers engage in hitting behavior. It’s important to address this behavior early on to ensure that it does not become a habit or escalate further. Here are some detailed steps to help you get your 21-month-old to stop hitting:
-
Consistently and calmly redirect their behavior: When your child starts hitting, immediately intervene and redirect their attention to a more appropriate activity or toy. This should be done consistently to establish clear boundaries and expectations.
-
Clearly explain that hitting is not acceptable: Use simple language to communicate with your child about their behavior. Get down to their eye level, and in a firm yet gentle tone, say something like, “We don’t hit. Hitting hurts others.” Repeat this message consistently so they begin to understand that hitting is wrong.
-
Provide alternative ways to express emotions: Young children often hit when they don’t have the words to express their frustration or anger. Teach them simple words to convey their feelings, such as “I’m mad” or “I need help.” Encourage them to use these words instead of resorting to hitting.
-
Engage in physical activities: Channeling your child’s excess energy through physical activities can be helpful. Provide opportunities for them to run, jump, or play active games. This helps release their pent-up energy and reduces the likelihood of hitting.
-
Use positive reinforcement: Praise and reward your child when they engage in appropriate behavior or communicate their emotions effectively. Positive reinforcement helps them understand what is expected of them and motivates them to continue using alternative ways of expressing themselves.
-
Teach empathy: Help your child develop empathy towards others by explaining how hitting hurts and how it makes others sad or upset. Encourage gentle touches and show them how to comfort others when they are upset. Role-playing situations where they can practice kindness and empathy can also be effective.
A famous quote by child psychologist James Lehman is, “Teach your child how to behave rather than what to do, so they can make good choices even when you’re not there.” This is a reminder of the importance of teaching children the underlying principles of behavior instead of simply focusing on specific actions.
Interesting facts on the topic:
- Hitting is a common behavior in toddlers as they are often still learning how to regulate their emotions and communicate effectively.
- Toddlers may hit out of frustration, a desire for attention, or in imitating behavior they have observed.
- Consistency is key when addressing hitting behavior. It’s important for all caregivers to respond to hitting in the same way to avoid confusion.
Here is an example of how the table could be included within the text:
Table: Alternative ways to express emotions
| Alternative ways to express emotions |
|---|
| Using words: “I’m mad” or “I need help” |
| Engaging in physical activities: running, jumping, or playing active games |
| Drawing or coloring to express emotions |
In conclusion, as an expert in child development, I recommend consistently redirecting your child’s behavior, providing alternative ways to express emotions, and using positive reinforcement to help them stop hitting. By consistently addressing this behavior and teaching empathy, you can guide your 21-month-old towards healthier communication and emotional management skills. Remember, patience and understanding are crucial as young children are still learning and developing their abilities to express themselves appropriately.
See related video
In this section of the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of using alternative phrases to stop undesirable behavior in babies and toddlers. They explain that phrases like “no” or “stop” actually reinforce the behavior due to the attention they receive, and instead suggest using calm and specific instructions to redirect the child. The speaker provides an example of using gentle guidance and natural consequences to teach the child appropriate behavior. They also mention additional resources for parenting tips and encourage viewers to access the free PDF document.
More answers to your inquiry
Here’s how to stop a toddler from hitting, according to experts.
- Give them something (not someone) to hit.
- Stay calm.
- Don’t tell the child they’re “bad”
- Make sure they’re not learning it.
- Change the environment.
- Don’t (unknowingly) reinforce it.
- Offer distractions.
- Take notice of good behavior.
More interesting on the topic
Besides, How do you discipline a 21 month old for hitting?
The response is: Remove your child from the situation
Calmly removing a child from the situation can be one of the best solutions to a hitting problem. Be prepared that you may have to do it more than once for a child to realize that there will be a clear consequence, involving not being able to play with others for a bit if they hit.
In this manner, Why is my 21 month old so aggressive?
Answer to this: Aggressive behavior in toddlers (hitting, kicking, biting, etc.) usually peaks around age two, a time when toddlers have very strong feelings but are not yet able to use language effectively to express themselves. Toddlers also don’t have the self-control to stop themselves from acting on their feelings.
Beside this, How do you discipline a 20 month old for hitting?
Response: Set clear limits. Respond immediately whenever your toddler hurts someone. Remove them from the situation for a brief time-out. Experts recommend one minute per year, so if your toddler is 2 years old, give them a 2-minute timeout.
How long does the hitting phase last in toddlers? Response: between 1-3 years old
How long does the hitting phase last in toddlers? Hitting, as well as biting, is normal behavior for any toddler, which is between 1-3 years old. Preschoolers may also hit, though the behavior will happen less frequently.
Similarly, How do I get my toddler to stop hitting other kids? Here are some helpful ways to get your toddler to stop hitting other kids. When your child lashes out physically, address the behavior right away: Say in a calm, firm voice, "It’s OK to be mad/frustrated/upset; it’s not OK to hit”
Keeping this in consideration, When do toddlers hit? Hitting and other similar behaviors usually peak around age 2 or 3, when toddlers have lots of big feelings but aren’t able to use language to express themselves yet. Some reasons toddlers hit include: Testing limits. Toddlers are learning that they’re separate people from their caregivers and want to assert their independence.
In respect to this, How do you stop a 2-year-old from hitting? For example, with 1- to 2-year-olds, you can hold the hand that they were using to hit and showing them gentle touch. If they persist, distracting them from the negative behavior with another activity may work. However, it’s important to make sure that hitting is not getting more attention than not hitting.
Furthermore, How do I Stop my toddler biting? The response is: Try these tips to manage toddler hitting, biting, and other challenging behavior: Keep your cool. Yelling, hitting, or telling your child they’re bad won’t get them to make positive changes to their behavior – you’ll just get them more riled up and give them examples of new things to try.