It’s difficult to watch a child hit their sibling. It’s all about seeing behavior differently and teaching a new skill.
Why did your child hit her sibling? Perhaps she wanted to get her sibling’s attention or wanted the toy her sibling was using.
To change this behavior, we must teach children what to do in this situation. Try following this process:
- Acknowledge what your child wants. “You wanted to play with that toy.”
- Communicate the limit. “You may not hit your brother. Hitting hurts.”
- Teach a new skill. “When you want a turn, tap your sibling and say please.”
With any new skill, this will require practice and patience for both children and adults. But this is the foundation of conflict resolution, a life long skill.
