DD - 18 months - has always been spirited. For the past few months she has been slapping DH & I on the head and in the face. We don't slap at home so give her a stern "no" or encourage her to stroke instead and be gentle. She also slaps other children when they've got a toy or book that she wants. When this happens at nursery, they encourage her to say sorry to the other child and to give them a cuddle. I don't think this means much to her and she frequently will follow a slap with a cuddle then slap again.
However her behaviour has now escalated where she will walk up to a child and unprovoked, slap them across the face. I am increasingly uncomfortable taking her into the company of other children, I spend all my time refereeing and saying no and my constant "nos" have become background noise. Yesterday at a friend's, I felt the red mist descend as I was so frustrated with her behaviour, I removed her into a different room by herself for about 30 seconds each time (I've never done time out before as she really is still v young) but she became completely overwrought and worked up so after she attacked a child for the umpteenth time, we went and sat quietly in a bedroom just the 2 of us until she calmed down.
I have read through some of the advice here but we seem to be doing it already if anyone else can help? Really feeling quite desperate and worried my child is destined to be the playground bully.