We went on vacation to San Antonio last week as a family. Granted it was extremely tiring, all the walking and heat, but my daughter seemed to have morphed into a different person! When she would get angry or frustrated, she hit herself....she also scratched her cheeks once...
I haven't seen it happen again since we've been home, but I was wondering if anyone else had this happen at around 4 years of age?
It really worried me, to watch my little girl intentionally hurting herself, and I can't figure out why in the world she'd want to do that. She is normally very well behaved. Could it just be the change from her normal routine, as well as the heat and exhaustion?
Thanks everyone for the great advice. I'm glad I'm not alone! I haven't seen her do it since we've been home, but should she, I'm going to use the let's talk method to ensure her that everything is fine and I don't want her to hurt herself...
I'm hoping it won't come to that! Maybe we should just refrain from warm climate vacations for a few years!
Since she only did it that one time, could she have ate something new that triggered it? Usually on vacation, you get to eat extra sugar & junk food. I've heard studies have been done & some foods with red dye can cause kids to act differently. Some daycares & schools won't even allow food brought in that has red dye. Maybe it was something simple like this & you can just try to avoid the sweets/food that caused it.
As you've read, it is common. You should be as emotionless as you can when you take her hand away from her head. Just say
It's okay to feel _______ (angry, excited, frustrated)
But it's not okay to:
hurt myself
hurt others
hurt things.
Just keep repeating that to her as you pull her arm away. Stay calm, and when you see that she's handling the same situation differently/better praise her for it. "I like the way your handling feeling (the way she's feeling)." Praise her for all the good things she does all day long.
it was probably just the change in her routine and surroundings.i wouldn't worry unless she begins to do it at home, then there might be something else that could be bothering her. my nephew used to do the same thing when we were all together and he got tired and stressed from all the strange people and strange sights.
I completely agree with Debi, in your reaction to it, if she starts to do it again. Do not ignore it, show her that it is not acceptable.
My son (4) saw another boy at school do this so he came home and tried it out. I immediately sat him down and did just what Debi suggested to you (heck Debi an I might be the same person HA) This is not acceptable and what's going on, lets talk. Also I reassured him that I love him and if he's hurt, that makes me sad, so I never want to see him hurt himself because that makes me sad. ( I think that got his attention more than anything, but every kid is different, find the angle that works for you) But do not allow it, stop it quickly and it will quickly go away. My son did it one more time and it was over. (You know those little ones always have to test the waters ONE more time to see if Mom is consistant)
Dear S.: I would recommend to talk with her and her teachers to see if she has changed in class too. Maybe something happened to her at school with other kids o even with an adult. This seems to be "like apunishing herself". Maybe she thinks she did something wrong and it may not be, but she believes that... talk to her with causion.
B.
This is pretty common and not something you should really worry about. In the circumstance described-your child was just trying to let off the energy, tension and frustration that came from too much excitement. Different children do it different ways. if the behavior was ongoing, in all different situations, that would be the time to worry and possibly talk to your doctor-but if it has quit and even if it recurs under similar conditions, it is pretty normal. Even the person whose child just hits herself when she walks in the room, shouldn't overly worry, but rather just redirect this behavior into a hug. Talking to a young child about a reaction to a situation is VERY important and I would explain that a more appropriate action would be to just hug you or say "Hi Mommy' really loud.
I have had some similar situations with my children and the children I used to watch in my home, so don't be alarmed. Just another chance to teach-and be aware of how much stress your child is having to deal with!
I wish I could give you an explaination, but I can let you know that you aren't alone. My daughter is almost 3, and for the past couple of months, she has been hitting herself in the head. The only time she does it is when I first see her when she wakes up or when she comes home from school, and I say "Hi!" to her. She won't do it when I say anything else to her, and she doesn't do it when anyone else talks to her. Maybe she is trying to tell me that I say "Hi" in an annoying way. lol Your daughter may have been frustrated or just palin hot.
My son is 5 now, but did this when he was 3 or 4. He did it when he got really excited. It was like he had this nervous energy and would sort of explode. It really bothered me but he eventually stopped.
Good luck!
