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Parenting

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Original poster

Do your children hit each other?

100 replies

Kendodd · 20/02/2021 12:56

I heard my children argue this morning and it occured to me, they never hit/push/shove each other. I remember as a child older siblings routinely hit me. It was the same at cousins/friends houses, siblings often hit/pushed/slapped each other, it was nothing unusual or commented on. I don't think kids do this so much anymore (?) Good! They did hit as toddlers but probably grew out of it by three years old.

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Chelyanne · 20/02/2021 14:52

Yes they do.

They're lovely when they're getting along but it can be carnage when they're not. We have 5 so plenty of personality clashes.

GalOopNorth · 20/02/2021 14:53

3 boys, aged 6-11.

No they don’t hit each other (or us)!

AnneWeber · 20/02/2021 14:55

Mine rarely did. Me and my sister used to have fights. I wondered if it was linked to my parents hitting us, whereas we never hit ours. Might might just be a coincidence though

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sleepyhead · 20/02/2021 14:56

No. There's a 6 year gap so it wouldn't be the same as sibs with a smaller gap anyway, but it occurred to me a few years ago that ds1 had never raised a hand to ds2 (and hes been very sorely provoked!).

I suspect it's partly a personality thing. I doubt ds1's ever raised a hand to anyone in his life weird as that sounds.

Ds2 on the other hand...

Me and my siblings were always scrapping!

Northernsoullover · 20/02/2021 14:57

No, they have had the odd spat which resulted in a few physical injuries but that was years ago (they are 15 and 17 now) they get on quite well. More so than my brother and I did.

iMatter · 20/02/2021 14:57

No mine don't either (boys 15 and 16)

However my brother and I used to kick (and hit) merry hell out of each other sometimes

iMatter · 20/02/2021 14:58

@AnneWeber

Mine rarely did. Me and my sister used to have fights. I wondered if it was linked to my parents hitting us, whereas we never hit ours. Might might just be a coincidence though

I hadn't thought of that! Good point.

Merename · 20/02/2021 15:02

2.5yr old still very hitty but getting there. 5yr old on occasion but rare now. Wasn’t common between my sister and I in the years I can remember, I remember being so shocked as a young teen seeing my male and female cousin of similar ages having a roll around the floor fisty fight.

MarciaMarciaMarcia · 20/02/2021 15:02

Never. Also a 6 year age difference. I was hit as a child, dh was not. We have never hit either dd.

PotteringAlong · 20/02/2021 15:05

Yup, there’s always a spot of wrestling going on in our house. They can be very shovey at times too.

Howmanydalmations · 20/02/2021 15:07

No way!

SilenceIsNoLongerSuspicious · 20/02/2021 15:09

No. I think one shoved the other in anger aged about 2 and 5, but nothing since. We have never hit them, and we are quick to send them to separate rooms if they’re annoying each other.

Splann · 20/02/2021 15:09

Mine don’t hit each other. We don’t hit them (or each other).

Me and my sister used to hit each other - emulating our parents possibly?

Ch3rish · 20/02/2021 15:12

No, they have never been physical with each other and neither was I with my siblings. I have no idea how common or otherwise that it

Thesearmsofmine · 20/02/2021 15:14

Occasionally they will hit or kick each other. It’s only the older two (8 & 10) who most of the time love each other but occasionally wind each other up. We have never hit them and are not even really shouty parents so I don’t think that the theory of copying parents is correct.

Babdoc · 20/02/2021 15:15

Not since they were toddlers, no.
I remember when DD (aged 3) hit DD aged 2, on the arm. I grabbed her, lightly smacked her arm to demonstrate, and said “See - it hurts, doesn’t it? That’s why we mustn’t hit each other.”
DD 3 calmly rolled up her other sleeve and proffered me the other arm.
When I asked what she was doing, she fixed me with a superior and patronising stare and said “Jesus says we should turn the other cheek!”.
I was mortified, but at least the DDs didn’t hit each other again! And they are now 30 and 31.

Cocopogo · 20/02/2021 15:17

No but me and my brother used to batter each other daily

ThePricklySheep · 20/02/2021 15:19

Oh. We don’t hit our children but they definitely hit each other. Usually the endless wrestling goes wrong and then escalates.
I was smacked as a child but never hit my sister.

Rockbird · 20/02/2021 15:21

Yes all the time. They're 13 and 8 and I've been trying for 8 years to get them to leave each other alone but they just can't do it. It's the main source of stress in this house.

Freetodowhatiwant · 20/02/2021 15:22

Mine have been doing a lot of wrestling during lockdown and yes sometimes hit each other. They are 6 and 8. I think they’ve almost become institutionalised by seeing only each other. They roll around and hit each other but also sit cuddled up for watching tv and cuddle up in bed together. The fighting is really annoying as they will mainly be play fighting but then one always gets hurt and they both think I tell them off more than I tell of the other one. I hope they grow out of it!

minniemango · 20/02/2021 15:24

Sometimes - it's mostly one (middle one) who hits the others though!

Stolenkisses · 20/02/2021 17:26

My five year old kicks his nine year old sister fairly regularly, but fortunately she doesn’t physically retaliate.

campion · 20/02/2021 17:36

@Stolenkisses

My five year old kicks his nine year old sister fairly regularly, but fortunately she doesn’t physically retaliate.

He might stop it if she did.

minipie · 20/02/2021 17:46

Yes mine do unfortunately

Sometimes it’s playing gone wrong. Sometimes it’s a fit of temper because one is winding the other up.

They do spend a huge amount of time playing together though (especially at the moment of course) so I suppose there’s more chance of tempers flaring. They really love each other - except when they hate each other

My sister and I didn’t fight physically, but then, we also didn’t play much together.

Stolenkisses · 20/02/2021 17:55

No, it definitely wouldn’t. Mine are both adopted and have complex needs. I spend a lot of time and energy trying to stop the goading (older one) and over reaction (younger one) Exhausting, but I’m sure we’ll get there eventually!

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