Anti social toddler!!

[xxsaralouxxx]

My twenty two month old ds has been goin to nursery since he was four months and I thought it would be great for social reasons. I also work there in the pre school so it was the easiest option for me! But it's quite the opposite, and he's constantly pushing hitting or scatching the other children and I'm constantly apologising for his behaviuor! The problem is, I'm very rarely there at the time it happens and have been thinking he's too young for me to discipline him later on in the day. Any ideas greatly recieved!! xxx

What kind of nursery does he go to? My little man goes to a Montessori nursery, and although they aren't allowed to tell him off, they can tell him that he made them sad and upset.

I thought it was a teensie bit wishy washy at first but it's really worked. He no longer hits anyone...not even his "sister like" friend. At 22 months he "should" get over it in time...just make sure he knows what it right, and what is wrong. Sometime he'll pick it up if you're consistent. (the "naughty step" was my friend!)

Good luck!!

He goes to a 'normal' private nursery and we've tried almost everything! The 'time ou' spot, ignoring him and giving the other child lots od attention in front of him etc. I do use the naughty step at home, which is starting to work, and yesterday he scratched his best friend and I told him to say sorry, which he did with a big cuddle, and then pulled her hair!!!!! He doesn't like it if I pretend tp cry though, so maybe telling him that he's made his friend sad will work. Thanks Rubyted!

I don't think you need to worry about disciplining later in the day. Let the staff deal with him at the time. I would just suggest that you 'punish' him when he is in your care and both you and nursery are consistent the message may start to sink in eventually. It's probably just a phase (approaching terribe two's )

I wouldn't worry, it's a phase, most children do it and it's up to the nursery to gently guide your child into the right behaviour.

• didn't mean punish - I meant discipline when he's in your care!

Thanks everyone feel much better now that I'm going along the right lines! patience and repetition and all that!

My daughter developed this problem when she was one years old at nursery. She started hitting other children just to get a reaction. That's when they started disciplining her - everytime she did it, they would tell her to apologise and then put her in a highchair for a minute, then take her out and give her a hug.

I actually got very worried because even in the park, she would go running to any random kid and push them or poke their eye to see what they do - so I would have to have a stern whisper in her ear everytime she was about to go running to another ride and remind her not to hit anyone or we would leave.

TBH, the disciplining may have worked in nursery because its such an enclosed environment, the kids all want to carry on playing, so they dont make the same mistake again - but at home its much harder - especially if its an only child! My daughter grew out of this by the time she was about 2. I took her to the park one day, and she didnt hit anyone - I was so happy!

I wouldnt worry too much - it is just a phase, and once they get older, with proper discipline, they learn what they're doing is wrong and not acceptable. Children are never too young for discipline - if they can understand when their food is coming, or if they are hurt, then they can be told not to hit anyone, and that it makes other children sad.