DS1(nearly 3) is currently experimenting with hitting (mostly me and ds2 1yo). I am going demented with frusteration, since this has been going on since ds2 was born, so quite obviously linked to feelings of jealousy and frusteration.
Various approaches have caused a temporary halt, but it seems to be reaching new-found heights. At the moment, I am re-iterating that hitting is not OK, and if he doesn't calm down, I remove him from the situation and have a time out (with him, but no eye-contact). Invariably, this only escalates a bad situation. I have also tried time out alone (he escapes); telling him I love him and don't want him to hurt me (sometimes gets through); shouting (not the best model but I have lost it on occasion); I have even smacked him (utter hypocrisy, haven't done it for a long time); I talk to him about why hitting is not OK at quiet times; we have used role-play, have re-directed him to hit a cushion, etc...etc...
For those of you with similar problems, how do you deal with it? How long did this go on? Is it normal for toddlers to be this aggressive (he can get really wound up and gets this totally angry face that actually is a bit scary). It would be nice to know that others are haivng similar problems, and that he will grow out of it sooner rather than later!