My 4yo says he enjoys hurting people

[unlurk85]

Has anyone else had this? 4yo (5 soon) has told me today that he feels happy inside when he hurts people. He was put in isolation at pre school for constantly hurting other kids today. I'm trying not to overreact or under react. Even if it's just attention seeking it's pretty hard to hear as a parent. It's been going on for ages so not a new problem; Help!?

Hi OP, while it's normal for children of this age to go through a hitting/biting phase, I would find it worrying if my child said this and I would want to seek help. Maybe start with a chat with the health visitor or GP. Have you spoken to the pre-school staff about next steps that you could take?

Does he watch YouTube for any chance? I ask because my niece came out with loads of stuff like this and we later found out it was from what she was watching. Unfortunately can’t supervise them 24/7 and YouTube is a trove for shite like this

Health Visitor and pre school both say it's within the realms of "normal". I just wondered whether anybody else had heard their child say this and whether I should be worried. No YouTube or anything, he has about 30 mins CBeebies a day and that's it.

once, my little sister when she was about 4 told me she got sort of happy when she saw a dead bird or something by the road and asked me if that was normal. I was like...no. But I asked her more about it, and all I can guess is that she didnt have the emotional vocabulary or understanding of what TO feel or what she WAS feeling but it was more a sort of excitement/adrenaline that this was something dangerous and different. She was never morbid or rough in any way, so this was a wierd thing for her to say. she is now the most delightful 21 year old and has been a beautiful, particularly caring and kind child right the way through and a lovely teenager. I dont know what that one odd comment was about, but it certainly wasnt a marker of anything else more worrying going on, perhaps it is like that for your sun and he has to work out what that feeling is or something? I dont know, but I wanted to say I had heard someting similar from a child who was completely fine - she never was hurting other children though so not sure if it is entirely the same. x