Questioner: Ciara
Subject: twins biting and hitting
Question: my 22 month old twins usually play great together,but recently my son has started biting and hitting his sister and laughs if she cries,he tries to do it again if i tell him not to,how can i stop this before he really injures her?
Answer: Dear Ciara:
I am not an advocate of any type of harsh discipline however, you need to grab his hand and tell him to stop immediately and then remove him from her prescience. Separate them for a period of at least 5 minutes.
There are books you can get to read to your little ones which describe appropriate and inappropriate behaviors. One says things like hands are not for hitting they are for throwing balls, or teeth are not for biting they are for biting apples, this sort of thing. It redirects inappropriate behaviors to appropriate behaviors. These are also good ways for you to explain to him what is wrong with his behavior.
Sibling rivalry is common between siblings and probably more so with twins. Often children become competitive with each other for attention. If you can provide one on one time with each during the day it may lessen his frustration.
Another idea is to get books with feeling words and faces to match to help them begin to develop a feeling vocabulary to express their emotions in an appropriate manner.
Best Wishes!
M Kay Keller
