My DS is 3 and a half and has, in the last 2 weeks, starting hitting other children when we go to soft play centres. He isn't doing it at preschool (he goes 5 mornings a week) - just at play places.
The last three times we've been, other parents have come up and told me about his behaviour. I have a 1 year old as well so the 3yr old tends to play unsupervised - he's very confident physically. It's never been a problem before. He went through a phase of hitting when he was 2 but hasn't done anything like this since.
I time him out at the play place. And if he does it more than twice we leave (which drives me nuts as we pay to get in!).
Anyone got any suggestions as to what I can do? We have talked about it and he says he doesn't know why he hits. After time out he promises not to do it again but 10 minutes later another irate mother with a crying child in tow (often about twice the age and size of DS) is telling me to control my kid.
I've tried restricting him to playing in the area where I am with the 1 year old. He's so bloody fast, I can't even get up to the older kid areas before he's off....I try and keep my eyes on him as much as possible but you know what it's like in places like that....
Help! I think if I can't solve this, we'll have to stop going and they are a godsend at the moment. DS is a very energetic boy and needs to be run every day (like a dog!) and with the weather at the moment, parks are out....