Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast
#68: What to Do When Your Toddler Hits Someone
In this episode of “Parenting in the First Three Years,” host Ann McKitrick discusses whether parents should insist that their child says sorry when their toddler hits someone. She emphasizes the importance of teaching empathy and repairing relationships but suggests that forced apologies may be ineffective and foster insincerity.
Ann delves into child development, discussing perspective-taking and how it influences conflict resolution. She advises parents on how to respond and to facilitate sharing perspectives and feelings. Instead of forced apologies, the focus should be on reparation and helping the hurt child feel better. By guiding children through conflicts, parents can foster empathy and social skills, tapping into their remarkable capacity to learn and grow.
Topics discussed:
- What to do when conflict happens
- Why forcing apologies may not be effective
- Ways to approach teaching children how to repair relationships
- What children begin to learn at different ages as they develop
- Recognizing these stages of development in your child
Resources:
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