Child hits when excited

[Emmzie2130]

My 4 year old has always been the rough housing kinda kid. Which is fine but when he comes across his playmates or adults who aren't that way they get upset and he doesn't understand why and gives a very insincere apology and goes about like nothings wrong. We've had talks alot about it and it's not changed. He jumps on them/play punches and crashes into them at full force when he's playing and overly excited. Anyone else got a similar child? What was your approach/what helped?

Is his dad rough housing with him? If so you need to put a stop to it and stop any other adults that join in with him. I would also keep him with you if he is getting over excited somewhere and you're there until he's calm.

At 4 he’s old enough to understand not to do this. What consequences does he get when he hurts someone? You need to have a rule that he doesn’t do this to anyone.

What would you do as talking about it being wrong works for a little bit but not long term

Do you give any consequences? So if you are out at a park you say to him no hitting/crashing into others and warn him you’ll take him straight home if he does. Then follow through with it.

I usually tell him no and explain why it's wrong etc and if he does it again he loses a toy etc... but we are currently away on a family trip with his cousins who are similar ages and I don't know what to do because he just throws himself on top of them ... I can't say we will go home and go home because we are miles away and don't drive

I'm probably not the most modern for this but I would get down on his level say "No" sharply after he has done it and explain that the others don't like it and if he does it again you'll take him outside. Then take him away when he does.

I would just take him away from the situation. Immediatly and every single time.

In that situation I’d take him away every time he does it. Take him to his room, or somewhere else in the house and he stays there until he apologizes properly. Do it every time he does it.

Thank you all for the advice I'll be trying this tomorrow if he does it again.

I don’t think you can expect sincere apologies at 4. I think you just take him every time.No warning. Just hoik him out. Bring him back when he calms down. Rinse and repeat. It’s boring for you (been there!) but I think it’s the only way.

You need to keep your eye on him 24/7 and intervene every single time

He's obviously too young to be left to play unsupervised

This would be my approach

Speaking as teacher with a lot of Reception experience, I'm probably a bit old school.
I get on their eye-level, take their hand and say "No! People don't like rough play!" and then remove him to stand/sit by you for a minute or two until he's calm. Rinse and repeat. Assuming he's otherwise neurotypical, most get with the program pretty quickly.