My 27 month old hitting brother and kids at daycare

My daughter was 2 in July.  Last week when I picked her up from daycare, I was informed that she had hit a little girl in her class twice.   Than this week Tuesday, while I was out, my husband sent me a text that she hit our almost 10 month old son.  I am not sure why she is hitting all of a sudden.   She is a very gentle girl and has been very good about no jealous towards her baby brother.   I am not sure, if from me spanking her bottom a few times that she got it from that.  We had a talk with her that it's not nice to hit people and she was really upset when we were talking to her about it.   But she still did it that second time.  

[margypops]

yes you have it correct she is copying a learned bahavior , she thinks Mom hits me it must be okay, she is getting mixed messages.