Children also need praise when they solve problems without being aggressive. This is just as important as stopping the hitting. When children are cooperating, sharing, and taking turns, tell them how nice it is to see them playing together. Remind them that it's more fun to get along. Sometimes children don't understand that mean words and hitting make other people feel bad.
Parents can help children understand how their actions affect others.
When children have been aggressive, help them think about how they would feel if that had been done to them. Then ask how they think it makes the other person feel. These types of questions help children learn to care about the feelings of others. By understanding that, children will be less likely to hurt others. Another important step in helping children deal with aggressive behavior is to be a good role model yourself.