I have a two year old son that when he is not getting his way or what he wants. He will end up throwing a fit, and start hitting himself a lot of the time.

Question I have is, if anyone has gone through this. What are some ways to work around this to try to teach him not to? Because some times he will end up scratching his face.

Treat it like he's hitting someone else. It gets more clear that way. I have had that happen with kids before (I work with kids). Not really that unusual. Great attention getter isnt it.

I would start taking things away, or some sort of consequence...along with 'Its not aloud to hit or hurt people'...you could go on with more explanation if you think of it.


...oh, and be peaceful and calm while addressing it...dont feed any rage. If its REEEEALLY bad, I know someone who did the 'tape oven mits on' idea. That might be good ... I wouldnt do that unless he's outta control in a fit tho.

It's not out of control, but he hats bed time lol. I think over time he will grow out of it, but was looking for some ways to help it along. It's like when sometimes when he is being noddy and wont listen and keeps testing until you do something about it. Ill stand him in the corner. Thats when he gets the most upset and will hit himself or hit the wall.

The other day he kneed the wall and hurt himself a little bit. I couldn't stop laughing, but I hid it from him that I was. Then I told him, see that hurts don't it. I don't think hill be kneeing the wall anytime soon

Has something in your life changed?
I just googled....what do I do if my child hits himself, do that and you have something to read!!!
Good Luck

When you pay attention to the action it brings it to forefront walk away and ignore the behavior...act like it is not happening....if you ignore it he won't receive the attention he is seeking from you and stop....just tell him fine if you want to hurt yourself go ahead and walk away

kind of, I have my son 5 days a week and my ex has our son on the weekends. This started about a month and a half ago. She lets him do what he wants, sleep where he wants and so on. I'm trying to teach him to sleep in his own room and other things, but it's been a struggle knowing all i'm trying goes out the window when he is back with his mother.

I will look up the site. Thank you

I have actually started doing that. Walking away from him when he is not getting what he want's and it seems to help a little. But the little guy will follow me at times and do this

When he first starts it tell him he needs to stop and walk away.... and keep ignoring him until he stops. (Unless he is truly going to hurt himself.)

I have a 3 year old and he has just hit the terrible 2's late, what a joy! he has started hitting himself on his legs in frustration when he doesnt get his own way. I just walk away from him, dont look at him, dont talk to him, when he has calmed down i talk to him about what happened and encourage him to explain how he felt. Sometimes if its really bad and he hasnt zoned out i put his arms down by his side and we have some deep breaths together which seems to difuse the situation more quickly but sometimes its hard catching them before the point of no return.
i think the best thing to do is not give him sympathy, no reinforced attention. Another thing i have noticed is if he does actually hurt himself he is soon to stop, then its a matter of "now that was a bit silly, lets get on with the day etc".
It must be very frustrating for little ones not being able to understand how to communicate there feelings properly, i think thats where the tantrums start and the hurting follows on from there if your giving him attention for doing it.
If he does properly hurt himself with scratching etc i wouldnt even mention it if i were you, just clean him up if he needs it and move on.
It is hard and no doubt you feel like pulling your hair out sometimes and no one like to see there child in pain caused by anyone but hang in there, stick to your guns, be consistant and he will learn thats not the way to get what you want :o) Good luck xxx

If he follows you fine, attention is the most precious thing for a toddler and withholding it is the most effective punishment, reward good ignore bad. Let him follow you but dont look at him or talk to him when he does, if he becomes agressive to you i would then go to timeout. But there is not harm in overpraising for good behaviour and at the end of the day he has to learn its not acceptible to act that way in a situation. But over do it when he is good

sorry to go on... and on... and on... and... on! I had a friend who's son used to smack his head on the floor over and over during a tantrum. She put a blanket down, threw loads of cushions down, put him on it and let him get on with it. He didnt hurt himself and she wasnt involving herself in his anger so he didnt get more wound up.

get in between his fists and his body so that he ends up hitting you, let him know that it hurts you and he needs to stop. ask him questions so he is able to try and talk about his feelings, ask him why he is so upset.

how about... not telling him to not hit others.. rather to tell him that hitting is not allowed? .. sounds like a great consequence to me would be a nap... or earlier bed time! yes in his bed!
when my youngest did not want to nap i was told.. let her scream... it took a summer mostly .. of shut doors and me hearing it from outside whilst doing yardwork in the front yard the advice came from a parenting class i had taken.. humm maybe she was hitting herself too? lol good luck. it doesnt sound too bad.. or like it goes on for an hour or 2 straight.. count your stars

Hey Shadow...missed you.

I have a 5 year old step daughter that bites herself too.
I have found that it's because her bio-- mom let's her do this and does nothing in the line of discipline.

It's very frustrating.

Get him to church!! Sunday School class

Kids that go to church are cutters, hit themselves and bite themselves to.......in the case of no discipline there maybe neglect and the child tries for attention......it usually is for attention and ignoring the behavior and rewarding appropriate behaviors usually works.......if they realize they are get praise and attention for being good and being ignored during bad behaviors they will come along.....just bcs a family goes to church does not mean that automatically makes a sound healthy family........going to church doesn't always mean practiced at home......

This would help as well.. But my 4th child has done that. She just started visitations with her father when she started to do the scratching her face when she gets mad. Same situation her father lets her do anything she wants, including not eating and basic necessaries of life. Anyway.. I did the ignoring.. that made it worse.. Did the "please don't, etc" that didn't work. Did the corner and that didn't work.. BUT what really truely worked long term..Quiet a few times did I pretend to act just like her, in front of others.. She would run into another room and got madder, BUT she stopped after about 5 times of this happening.
She got so embarrased she finally stopped. It took a few months, but consistancy helped.

Ill do that sometimes and he will start laughing. So it does help sometimes. But whats really funny is trying to see yourself how you look doing it. I mean, I'm a big kid and get all into it

Yeah.. she's done the laughing thing as well.. which she has done since. And so far it's worked. It's been 1 yr since I started, and she hasn't done it in over 3 months.
It is funny.. and that's what works.. Is that they embarass us in stores doing this right? Well guess what.. it actually embarrasses them as well. That's why they laugh about it.
And it's very hillarious to watch yourself act like them, but hey.. whatever works right? :)