In the last few weeks Laura has picked up the adorable habit of hitting. With her fingernails. We started taking her to her room and putting her in her crib (the only place left in the house to contain her) to let her cool off for a minute or two, which seemed to do the trick.
But then we began wondering if she would negatively associate her room and bed with being 'in trouble'... so we went back to the drawing board. The problem is, since we don't have anywhere (besides her crib) to put her for a time out, we are coming up blank. I decided that today I would sit her on the stairs and actually use the words "time out". I've only had to do it once, so I can't attest to how effective it is so far. In the meantime, I am open to other suggestions on how to stop the hitting/ scratching!
I just left the room. If i got hit I said I really didn't appreciate it, and tried to change the subject and if i got hit again I'd say Ok goodbye, and leave the room.
ReplyDeleteGenerally Toby cried and got mad and followed me, and I'd just ignore him for a bit and then explain that I don't mind sitting and being with him, but not if i was going to get hit because I don't like it.
Then he'd usually cry more and ask to be picked up, and i'd pick him up and give him a hug and go find an activity in a different room for us to do.
If he actually HURT me when he hit (deliberately) I'd still leave the room but ask that he please say sorry to me, and then just ignore him. He used to get incredibly offended and embarrassed when i asked him to say Sorry and it would cause a bigger scene, and then I'd just try to change the subject and move on, but lately he will say sorry if I leave him alone long enough.
I hesitate to actually 'punish' him becasue a scared or embarrassed kid will lash out even more, and eventually it becomes an attention thing (ie mommy is making dinner and not coming when i call but if i go hit her she will at least turn her attention to me) so, with Toby at least, I've found that ignoring him completely and moving away is more effective.