Question about my 2 and 1/2 year old nephew...

Hi,

I have a question about my 2 &

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

A child of your nephew's age is not to be expected to draw the fine lines that your sister thinks are expected. His relatives should stop modeling this behavior - it will only encourage him. Actions speak more loudly than words, and the relatives' behavior speaks volumes. It is very confusing to a young child to see, on the one hand, that hitting is allowed in some situations and then prohibited in others. The world of a two year old is pretty balck and white. While you continue to set limits of hitting, let the relatives know that they should stop that type of fooling around.