How to stop my non-verbal child from hitting me

[CruisingDuck]

DS is 2.5 and non verbal. Delayed development which occupational therapy are starting the process to investigate.

DS is now at the stage of hitting me and throwing his toys which is expected I guess at his age, but the problem I have is he doesn't understand the word 'No'. he just laughs and carries on hitting me.

The situation he hits in is when he is upset or isn't getting his own way. (I.e., trying to throw toys at my feet when I'm in the middle of cooking dinner).

When he throws toys, especially at me, I keep a hold of them and repeat that until he either stops, or runs out of toys to throw at me.

He has also started hitting my parents too and when he did that, my dad gently guided him away from him and then he threw an almighty tantrum.

I have tried using my mum voice, but again, he just laughs.

Is there any other things I can try as it is getting tiresome with getting hit and slapped.

Bump

I would say the answer is to redirect him towards something he likes as much as possible or give him an alternative. The other thing I'd say is to try to avoid introducing him to anything that you're not happy for him to have regularly/frequently!

I would stop with the word no because you are just going to end up very frustrated and feeling that he's ignoring you, not getting it or doing it on purpose to wind you up. Even if you know it's not really true the frustration will probably build.

What does he like? Does he have anything he's obsessed with? Use it too your advantage as much as you can. It's hard to give ideas without knowing him but while you're cooking would he like to play with pans and a wooden spoon to be like you while you talk to him about what you're both doing. Maybe he'd just hit you with the wooden spoon instead though! Does he have some toys he can hit and throw? Foam balls maybe that you could replace his other toys with when he starts throwing them. A big beanbag or cushion he can punch, squeeze and squash.

I would also say that it's ok for him to have a tantrum sometimes. Otherwise it's very easy for you to end up constantly walking on eggshells trying to prevent the unpreventable. Just make sure he is safe and afterwards big hugs (if he's ok with hugs/touch) and put it behind you.

There are likely to be lots of days where you get it wrong and loads of trial and error - plus what works brilliantly one day may not work another! Just watch him carefully and try to work out if he has certain triggers or particular things he struggles with and if there are ways you can manage that. Mine has ASD but was verbal so very different, but hopefully a few ideas!