How to teach a 18 month old to stick up for them-self?

[mummy2aisha]

I was wondering what should I do my 18 month old daughter has had a small bucket of sand thrown over her by anther child been slapped on the head twice and poked in the eye by different kids on different occasions and just sat there and did nothing apart from cry. I was wondering what and how can I teach her to stick up for herself It annoying having a child sitting next to her on the bus in her buggy sticking there finger in her eye or bending her finger and she does nothing suggestions and experiences please.

Would you like her to e.g. punch the other child in the face?

I think it would be easier to teach them to move away from children that upset them. You can tell the other child to stop doing nasty things.

You don't really want to see toddlers fight do you?

Its your job as a mother to protect your baby. Your baby cried as her way of asking for protection.

What did you do? I would have told off the children.

I'm with the others here - your job. Of course she sat there and did nothing - she's still a baby.
You need to protect her. When she is bigger she can learn to remove herself from situations where she is being hurt but until then, you have to do it for her.

of course I didnt let the other children poke her in the eye etc they did it at playgroups while playing together I must have written my question wrong. I told the children off for doing it of course and explained to them why it was naughty. I must have written my question like I was traing her like a pitbull. Its horrible when i see other kids being heavy around her that why I am worried.

It's normal for toddlers to behave like this - inappropriately pushing, poking and shoving - and that's why they need to be 'trained' out of it.

The way your question came across, it sounded like you wanted to train her to fight back, which only escalates the problem!

If your little girl is gentle and never does this, think yourself lucky and make sure you keep an eye on the play that goes on around her. Often it is obvious that it is becoming too rough - remove her if you are worried.

I would say the question you posted is also your answer! To learn to stick up for herself she has to experience these situations in the first place. So I agree with the other posters, at this age it more the other child that needs to have the wrong doing explained to them, and you can only offer protection and comfort to your child, but these things are also a normal part of growing up and childhood so in some ways they are the lesson you are looking for!

Doesn't make it any easier as a mum though to see DC upset - now that I have a child I completely understand why people can get so over protective towards their children!

dittany your right i did move the childs hand away but the mother wasnt paying attention to her child behaving like this. I should have said it is annoying when you get parents who dont watch there own kids I should probably write the question again I feel like a prat now. I

She is still a baby! She doesn't have to stick up for herself fgs . That's your job.

tell the other mother 'nicely' that she should stop her child poking his fingers into other children's eyes...
if she shred her shoulders, tell her she is raising a bully... and that her child needs to be made understand that such behaviour will not be tolerated.
then you cuddle your baby and make her feel protected.

not a lot, but apart from getting annoyed there isn't much you can do

Oh sorry, didn't see your last post. Don't want to make you feel bad after seeing that.

Oh dear. I recall a toddler who regularly tried to hit my DS at a toddler group. I tried removing my DS, but this wretched toddler wouldn't stop. I eventually told the mother that it was perfectly normal for toddlers to hit, kick etc - but that it wasn't normal for parents to just stand there and watch their toddlers doing it to others. She was very cross.