As a former educator, I’ve encountered a variety of challenging behaviors in children. From teaching in underprivileged urban communities to volunteering in an orphanage in rural India, I’ve seen it all. I’ve worked with students who struggle with impulsivity, aggression, and the inability to follow directions. I often found myself pondering their home environments, assuming they lacked structure and were inundated with screen time. This tendency to seek explanations is simply human nature; we want to understand and, at times, to assign blame.
Now, as a mother to a spirited toddler, I can confidently say that my child can be quite the handful, and I refuse to feel ashamed about it. I strive to create a loving and stable environment for my son, complete with a consistent routine and various fun outings to public play areas (yes, the ones teeming with germs!). He attends daycare once a week and participates in a “Mom and Me” class to nurture his social skills while giving me a much-needed break. We enjoy family dinners and have a bedtime routine designed to provide him with both love and predictability.
In our household, we have clear boundaries: no hitting, slapping, or pushing. Yet, somehow, he has still picked up these behaviors. The last few months have been challenging for me—though my toddler seems blissfully unaware of the havoc he can wreak. Every time we visit a play area, it seems inevitable that he’ll end up hurting another child.
If you happen to be in his way on the slide or are simply enjoying a snack he deems his, you might find yourself on the receiving end of a shove or a slap. In the past, I would have rushed to apologize profusely to the parents of the “victim,” feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over me. But a recent revelation has changed my perspective entirely.
I’ve come to accept that my son is simply a typical, developing child. He is bright, full of energy, and yes—he hits. It’s time to embrace this reality. He is not malicious or naughty; he is figuring out how to navigate his world, and at this stage, physical actions often come more easily than words. While I understand that hitting isn’t acceptable, I now choose to address the behavior calmly and move forward, instead of spiraling into self-doubt and guilt.
I commit to accepting my strong-willed and eager toddler. Each incident presents a teachable moment to guide him towards using his words instead of his hands and expressing kindness. I refuse to feel guilt or let others label him as “bad.” My role as his biggest supporter and loving teacher is one I will embrace with pride.
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Summary
As a parent, it’s important to accept that toddlers may exhibit challenging behaviors, such as hitting. Instead of feeling embarrassed or guilty, parents should focus on teaching their children alternative behaviors and embracing their developmental stages.
Keyphrase: toddler hitting behavior
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