the last two days my son has been hitting me, and well, everything and everyone else, non-stop! He will just walk right up and hit me, usually in the face, and it seriously hurts! I am almost certain this couldnt be a learned behavior because i cant think of a time he has ever witnessed someone hitting someone else. Is it possible he has just learned this on his own and thinks is something new & fun to do?? I noticed that today, he was playing in a cuboard that he wasnt supposed to be into, and i told him no and moved him away, he got mad and walked over to the dog and smacked him hard, in the face. Is this normal behavior for his age (a year in two days)?
I went through the same thing with mine recently, but it was mostly my fault, I should say. I would smack his hand or butt if he did something bad and it backfired on me, to the point where Gabe would hit his cousins, me grandma or whoever got in his way. I have since stopped and gabriel has improved as well. Since you said your son hasn't witnessed anyone being hit..it could be just a phase, like look how fast I can swing my hand through the air and then smack!...As long as you reinforce that you do not approve of his behavior, perhaps with a time out? (he might be too young for that) Or try and play the empathy card and let him know he's hurting you :( How do you usually react when he hits someone?
Oh, and I just wanted to ask, is your son in daycare or anyone else's care while you're not around?
One year's old is to young to be doing it with the intent to hurt, just wait it out. When kiddo hits just say, oh be gentle..
i have tried the empathy thing, i pretend to cry and then he sort of stands there looking confused, he seems like he knows he did something wrong, but then he just does it again a few minutes later. Most of the time though, i get angry with him, do my firm "No joshua, no hitting" blah blah. that hasnt seemed to work either. he is in my moms care while i go to school three mornings a week, but there really isnt any way he could witness hitting with her, hes just alone with her, in our house and she knows not to let him watch tv. im just really lost, but hopefully he outgrows it soon.