18 m onth old screems all day

[sweet pea provider]

I am a licensed home child care provider.  I have 6 wonderful children I take care of during the day and some evening hours. One of the children has been with me since January and at first he was doing ok, he would cry when I would change an infants diaper but got over that in 3 weeks.February I got 3 more children to watch that are close to his age, hoping he could interact more with children his age. Since then he cries all day. I give him his am nap,which now he is good about, but any other time out of the crib he screems like he is jealous if I interact with other kids. Is this normal for an 18 month old? I should also include that it isn't just screeming it was hitting himself in the head with his hands or banging his head on the floor or walls too--that is when I told him  no and it would get worse so I would put him in the crib so that he would not hurt himself. Now he has resorted to hitting me or any child that I am interacting with.  I have tried to explain this to mom, she said he used to do this at the last day care (he was only in it for a month). Other providers tell me to get rid of him--I just can't do that--any suggestions on what I can do to be a better provider and help him? (he is the youngest in his family two older siblings 12 & 14).

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

No, this is not normal behavior for any child. When he is aggressive you are doing the sensible thing by 'timing him out' in his crib. Accompany this by saying "no hitting". At other times, of course, interact with him as best you can, knowing that you can't focus on him all the time. As you know from your experience, children vary greatly in their needs for direct contact with parents or surrogate parents. All you can reasonably do is provide the best care you can while this little boy is with you. I admire you for persisting.