My kids are getting hit

[andreae310]

I am a mother of three so I know how kids can behave.  My 2 1/2 year old nephew is not being very nice.  He hits my  2 1/2 year old.  My husband and I do not allow hitting, so my son comes and tells us.  My nephews parents do not disciple him not even make him say sorry.  The final straw was when my baby who is 16 months had a blanket that he wanted.  He ended up taking it from her and she fell and hit her head on the wall.  It left a nice bump.  I took the blanket away from him and told him that wasn't nice.  I think that was the most discipline he received.  His parents took him upstairs then brought him down to go swimming.  All my inlaws do is defend him he's still a baby...blah...blah.  I have had enough of my kids getting hurt.  I don't know what to do.  Please help!!!

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Since you are not his parent there is little that you can do. It goes without saying that you'll have to supervise things very tightly when he is at your home. Unfortunately, your nephew is being harmed by the inadequate discipline offered by his parents. You may be in a position of having to limit contact.

[fhayejones]

I've notice it, if that kind of treatment will continue, in his mind it is normal to take that reaction because he is right or maybe in some other way he is an add-adhd child can't control his temper and gesture. One thing you could do is let his parents know and tell them what if their son has adhd syndrome that is more alarming and tell his parents the effect of it and what could happen.

[autiemommy]

Why do you assume everyone has ADHD? I have seen you write this in many topics. He is not being corrected for his actions...causing him to be defiant. He does not have ADHD.

[RockinRuth]

Some children mature quicker than others.  My son at two and half would have a flat out tantrum that would never resolve to a I'm sorry.  He is normal.  Took longer for him to mature.  When in public or out visiting, some things are left better unsaid.  How do you not know that your son didn't cause your nephew to hit him by taking a toy away.  Some children have sensory problems that are not ADHD that hitting is his only way of expressing himself not an expression to hurt.  I'm sure his parents knew what they were doing.  I have a 6 yr old nephew whom we were visiting who thought he could get my two and half year old in trouble by saying he was hitting.  I didn't make my son say sorry because for one I knew his maturity level wasn't there and second I watched from a distance and it was the 6 yr old who needed to say he was sorry for causing the two yr old to miss behave.