18 m/o B/G Twins - Boy keeps thwacking his sister

[lorisangel123]

They are 18 months old - old enough to understand what we say, but not old enough to control their impulses.

Our son keeps thwacking his sister randomly throughout the day. If he has a toy or something in his hands, she gets hit with that. If not, it's with his hands. He just feels compelled to hit her just like that.

We have tried everything - telling him that hands are not for hitting, ignoring it, or trying to act stern and making angry faces. Nothing works.

Today we were out to a park and it was heartbreaking to see her keep gesturing to us that he hit her.

I don't think she is scared of him or anything. They play together, laugh at their jokes, etc. But from the daughter's perspective, she is getting hit - if a parent hitting her can cause her mental trauma, so could it be from a child of her own age, right?

How can we stop this? Any words of advice?

 

[keziah37]

@lorisangel123 Move the hitter away from the other and say whatever your phrase is (hand are not for hitting etc), then all your attention should go to the one who got hit, "oh no, did he hit you? That hurts! Do you need hugs?" And otherwise don't pay attention to the hitter. The idea is that the lack of attention after an undesirable action will make them not continue.

 

[nikkirobinson01]

@lorisangel123 Words of empathy. Our B/B are 15 mos and one always hits the other or throws toys at him. Sorry