Siblings hitting each other - HELP!

[Hadtonamechangeforthis123]

Can anyone offer me practical advice because I don't know how to handle this!

My just turned 3 year old DD has suddenly become very slap happy with her 4 year old sister. She's suddenly hitting her, pushing her or throwing toys at her over even the smallest disagreements. They do have a VERY good relationship, they are extremely close and play together all the time. My 4 year old has now gone from crying and telling me to hitting back.

How do I handle this? I've separated them, I've told 3 year old off for hitting and 4 year old off for hitting back (although at times I've wanted to say I don't blame you!) I've told them we don't hit, hitting hurts, its naughty and horrible, I've said we love each other we don't hurt each other. I've made them sit and think about why they've been told off, I've threatened to take toys away if they're hitting over toys....

Help!

I find aha parenting v good. www.ahaparenting.com/parenting-tools/siblings/siblings-101

I get them to say sorry and to ask their sibling if there's anything they can do to make them feel better. It seems to be working. It happens sometimes as with siblings but not a frequent problem.

Play fighting between siblings is actually a good thing, teaching them lots of skills.

I attach a (rather average) link below but there is loads of good quality research showing the link between play fighting and learning about boundaries, negotiation and conflict resolution.

It is a shame that so many are obsessed with ‘kind hands’. I read somewhere about the ‘13 second rule’ which is not to intervene in a play fight until at least 13 seconds have gone by, as most play fights resolve themselves by then.

content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1209949-2,00.html