WWYD: hitting and biting

[Twinkleinmyeye]

DS (2.9yo) and DNiece (3.6yo) started arguing over a toy. DS smacked DN, DN bit DS (hard - bruise came up immediately). Result was two screaming children. :(

DS "started" it, but DN's response was a bit disproportionate (the bruise makes me feel I'm not just being all PFB about it - if she'd just smacked him back I may have even said "serves you right!").

How would you deal with this situation? They had been playing beautifully immediately prior to this!

Hopefully the outcome will be that DS never tries to settle another argument by smacking .
I would tell them both that hitting, biting is not allowed and probably end up taking the "offending" toy away.

Children like to test boundaries - see this as a learning curb. Put in place (it sounds like you have) that this behaviour wasn't appropriate, but if it doesn't happen they'll never learn.

Cuddle them both, give them each a chance to say what's up.

Acknowledge their feelings,point out how they've been getting on really well, then ask them what they want to do to sort things out, as hurting each other isn't acceptable.

Thank you for this feedback - sorry for the extreme time lapse in revisiting the thread!!

We've not had any more incidents like this so fingers crossed they both learned a lesson that day!