My 3 year old son has still been on his hitting streak. I thought getting him out of the house this weekend for birthday parties and a trip to the zoo with his friends would snap that habit since he wouldn’t be confined at home with his 5 year old sister. Unfortunately, right when the weekend was over, the hitting started up again and then some.

Last night was particularly rough where there were multiple instances of hitting near my daughter’s head and I had to step in to stop the hitting. We tried the talking approach and explaining why hitting is not something you want to do. It could really hurt someone and as he gets bigger and stronger, it could be more problematic. I hope that by the time he is 4, it will be a habit he leaves behind.

I also will start to talk to my daughter more about really protecting herself from the hitting. She is much bigger than my son (at least for now!) and she can use her arm bar or to keep him at distance some other way. On the drive to daycare, I was also brainstorming how to make sure she knows how to block hits and slaps. It will be helpful in the current situation and maybe it could be helpful as she gets older (although I hope she never has to do things like that as she gets older!). Besides juggling 3 kids during the day at points and time, I’d say the hitting aspect has been the hardest part of this stretch of parenting. Luckily (and hopefully), these things are phases and the light at the end of the tunnel will show up at some point. Hopefully soon!