I'm at my wits end with my 4yo DD. She is constantly hitting, smacking and kicking her dad, her little sister and the dog. And I'm not talking little hits. This morning I caught her belting her sister on the bum because she had a toy she considers hers. It's happening more and more and I don't want this behaviour to rub off on my LO.
The dog gets really fed up with her hitting and kicking him he growls at her now and I'm terrified he will get aggressive back at her. She kicks him and hits him in the head all the time for no reason.
As for my husband, I can't get her to understand that she needs to be nice to mum and dad. I have always had a closer bond with her than my husband and she absolutely breaks his heart almost daily with the way she treats him. It's hard to watch.
I have tried time outs, rationally talking to her, taking things away, reward systems and I just can't get it to stop. We don't smack in our house at all! I believe in being firm but I don't believe hitting a child will help them to understand.
I'm feeling helpless and so incredibly useless! She is such an amazing little girl. She's loving and caring and has incredible empathy. She is smart and she knows it's not right what she's doing. She does have a bossy side and attitude as most 4yos do but she takes it to far. HELP!!
1 Replies
This might sound like it's out of left field but it sounds like she thinks the pecking order goes Mum, her, Dad, little sister and dog!
Dad needs to discipline her himself as it's him that she is hitting.
Also make sure she isn't doing it to get a rise out of you.
Keep her and the dog separate until this phase had finished.