Toddler hurting younger sister and pet

[purplepolo]

My nearly 3 year old (will be 3 in november) has recently started being quite spiteful and I don't know or understand why.

She will push her younger sister (10months) over, she will pinch her and bite her leaving marks, or she'll start stroking her head and the just gets rougher. She's now started with our house rabbit, she'll grab her fur and this morning she kicked her.

I'm at my wits end, I've done time out, I've asked calmly, I've shouted, ive shown her myself how to be gentle and getting her to copy saying away thats really kind well done, etc nothing I do makes a difference. Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

It sounds as if you are doing everything right, sometimes they are taking it in and it doesn't seem like it, but it just takes time.

If you aren't, it may also help to give him lots of praise when he plays nice with his sister, or strokes the rabbit.

It comes across as a jealousy issue, it is difficult sharing parents time at that age, especially with the amount of time babies take up. As a last resort you can try fussing over your daughter or the rabbit when he is mean to them and giving them lots of love. The reason I say last resort is it may stop the behaviour as he doesn't want to share you, but equally it may increase his jealousy and make it worse.