Aggressive 3 year old.

[Pinkchampagne]

My 3 year old DS has a very aggressive side to him & I just don't know what to do with him.
He shouts loudly when he doesn't get his own way, & will sometimes be physically aggressive with his older brother & other children.
I normally tell him off then sit him on the naughty step & make him have time out. He then wants to say sorry after a few minutes, but he will repeat the behaviour the second something small annoys him.
He once hit a younger child at baby gym & today I was told by his nursery assistant that he had been aggressive with other children.
I apologised & have had stern words with him, but nothing seems to work for long.
My eldest son has always been very gentle & sensitive, so DS2 has come as a bit of a shock!
Every other part of him is lovely & he is a real characture, but I am at the end of my tether with this aggression he seems to have & just don't know what to do with him.
I would appreciate any tips as to what to do, as it is really getting me down.

i can sympathise with you! my ds (5) has been like this, it started at about 3 too. i did use a star chart when things got really bad and that did seem to work in the short term. my son is getting better at school now, but is still quite agressive with his older brother. i think it's something they eventually grow out of.

sorry not to be more helpful, but i know how you feel.

Thanks. It is reassuring to hear he may grow out of it eventually!
It feels like nothing I do really works atm & I am so stressed with it all.

I have the same thing - I can't believe that my super loving super friendly little 3 yr old boy also has this wild side. I didn't grow up with brothers, so I don't know what you're supposed to do with this (I assume) rather male behaviour - how you help them channel it.
Other parents laugh when they see him chasing their little one round the playground, meanwhile I'm running after him thinking 'Run for your life, he's going to rugby tackle you!'. And he's not running after them with any intention of hurting them, but it's like when he gets there he can't think of anything else to do except push them over. I've suggested kisses, cheers, hi-fives... none seem to take.
I've got a little girl, and she tends to get knocked about a fair bit, which makes me feel very aggressive towards my son, so I spend lots of time thinking it's all coming from me... aarrrghhh. So sorry, no help, but I'm there with you.

My dd who is 4 is the same, but only at home, at school she's an angel.