Difficult 4 Year Old and hitting...Help!!

If he has sleep issues than I believe that is his reason for hitting and acting angry is LACK of sleep it may be gluton idk I know when my daughter is over stimulated or tired she gets angry( no no no and kicks) she is only two. I make her go back to bed sleep a couple more hours( its a fight)_ and she is better when she wakes up. She also has had severe congestion since birth going threw a perio of ear infections due to it. They discovered her congestion is bc her adenoids so her are scheduled for tubes( for ear infections) and the removal of the adenoids bc of her congestion. talk to your dr about the adenoids and get a referal to see an ear nose and throat dr. and see if the adenoids is the congestion issue and if it is get the surgery and have your little one sleep better and the anger may go away too!!

Oh boy, the little guy is suffering from something still. I suffered the same and to this day I still become irate from a stuffy nose, which leads to loss of sleep. I've been on the wrong meds and now on right ones.

Your son needs to get tested. Don't let it go. The fact that you live in CT, means change in seasons, sometimes dry and sometimes humid weather which means allergies are being triggered. It's not his fault.
I would also recommend, if you have wall-to-wall carpeting, pull it out. That is a breeding zone for dustmites and what not. If you have animals especially cats, they carry an enzyme that can cause skin rashes or other forms of allergies. I'm writing from experience. I'm a severe sufferer of all kinds of nasal allergies and milk products.
Wishing you and especially your son all the best. Let us know what the outcome is.
One last note: try giving him a nap in the afternoon to help him relax a bit.

Your son is suffering and he really can't control himself. I think you need to take him to as many doctors as you can to get to the bottom of this. My son just yesterday got up very early and I know he did not get enough sleep. He didn't listen as well and was hyper. That was just ONE day! I can imagine what you are going through. Definetly try eliminating gluton or dairy and see if that helps. When you get the situation under control you will get your loving boy back. My son is allergic to dairy and the few times I gave it to him to test my theory he was like a different person. Very angry. It was scary so I know what you are going through. Don't give up on him, he just needs the right doctor.

Hi A.,

Every mom who is being honest has had a moment where they would love nothing more than a holiday. Unfortuately, it's never really mom's day off, so you have my heart felt sympathy. LOL

Lots of times when kids are agressive it has a lot to do with how they feel about whether or not they are communicating. If they can't express themselves (not your fault but because they get so frustrated they "lose" their words), if they feel they aren't being heard, if they don't have the appropriate words, or don't even know WHY they feel how they feel, they can act out aggressively.

A lot of practice helps. Telling him what to say, what to do and acting them out in play situations is like any other kind of practice. The more you do it the better you get at it and eventually it comes naturally. Helping him identify feelings, starting with the simple ones and getting to more complex ones, and how he feels physically when he feels those emotions as well as what triggers them, will help him start to control them.

Instead of trying everything, try one thing in the way of consequences and stick to it. And find one that you can apply anywhere and will matter to him. For instance, if you hit, you are done. No matter where we are we will go home, no matter what you are doing we will stop. Keep it really simple and really consistent. If he gets further angry, stick to your guns and try not to elevate with him. Stay calm, and if you need to remove him from the rest of the group. His fit shouldn't be his punishment for you disciplining him.

Take him to get tested for allergies. A little bit of discomfort could lead to a whole boatload of rest for both of you.

Hope this helps,

L.