DS1 (almost 6yrs) and DS2 (4yrs) seem increasingly to resort to "I hate you" when they are angry with each other. I really don't like to hear them use that word, and have generally tried to deal with it by saying we don't use that word, I understand you are cross etc etc, is there a better way you can say how you are feeling type of thing. I just feel it is creeping in more to their default language when arguing and I don't know whether to ignore it more (I know they don't really mean it, and don't necessarily appreciate how stark and awful it sounds to me!) or keep responding to it and discouraging it. Are they partly saying it in anger and partly to get a reaction?...
How do you deal with this sort of thing in your house? I should also add that DS2 says it to me fairly regularly at the moment when angry towards me (he has sensory issues and his temper can really flare/he can get very frustrated).