Hi everyone, can I ask your advice please,
So my son is three , and the past few weeks he has changed so much. He is an only child and me and his dad love him to bits but he is such hard work. He constantly goes out of his way to hit and push other children (only children he is familiar with, at playgroup he wouldn't even acknowledge other children) to the point these children won't even play in the same room as him. When put in time out he hits himself to make himself cry then when you ask why he is hurting other people he will just laugh ! He is bold enough to do it in front of adults and just laughs. He lashes out now and again at me and although he has never hit his dad he will throw things at him. If he has been with his childminder he will boldly announce that he has hit his 'friends' to me when I pick him up. His childminder is working with him but she is currently seeking other opinions about how to deal with his behavior. Recently a very close family member has passed away and I don't no if this is his way of dealing with it or if I am trying to find possible explanations to excuse his behavior. Has anyone here been through this and can anyone possibly shed some light on how we can support him to overcome this 'phase'. He is my world I absolutely adore him so it is horrible to see him lashing out :( (we do 'time out' which has been unaffective),
Thank you x