It happens fast. One second, two children are building together, and the next, someone’s crying.
- Remove Your Static: Being upset when a child hits is normal. Take one breath before you step in. Your calm helps them find theirs.
- Keep everyone safe first: Move in calmly and stop the hitting. Keep it short: “I won’t let you hit. Hitting hurts.” Then check on the child who got hurt.
- Say what you see: Kneel down and name the feeling: “You’re mad. You wanted the blocks.” Feeling understood helps a child calm down.
- Teach another way, later: Children can’t learn new skills while they’re upset. Once things settle, show them what to do next time, like saying “Stop!” or coming to get you. Practice it during calm moments too, not only right after a conflict.
- Reflect: When does hitting happen most in your classroom? Look for patterns, like a certain time of day, activity, or group of children.
Source: “Powerful Interactions” by Amy Laura Dombro, Judy Jablon, and Charlotte Stetson (NAEYC, 2011).