Is it normal behavior for a 2.5 year old to push another child?

Not aggressively, just while playing. Or is this something that the mother should have evaluated?

Whether your child is the pusher, or "pushee" I would love to hear your experiences.

Message edited 7/31/2012 9:08:45 AM.

Re: Is it normal behavior for a 2 year old to push another child?

Re: Is it normal behavior for a 2 year old to push another child?

Yes, I expect that 2 year olds will push, grab and even bite sometimes. I also would expect that if another child did that to my child while playing that the parent would intervene in some way (speak to them, time-out, redirect them, etc.) Whatever makes sense for them when dealing with that behavior. I would expect that because that's what I did with my child when he went through that phase and it seemed to really work. I would NOT be ok if it happened several times on a playdate and the parent did nothing. I would rethink playdates moving forward if the parent wasn't going to do anything.

Is it normal behavior for a 2 year old to push another child?

DD sometimes pushes and sometimes takes toys. I feel that at this age, it's normal because they are still very ego-centric and it's all about "me, me, me." They are also starting to become more assertive and testing their boundaries and their independence.

For us, when I see DD do something like push or not share, I usually talk to her and tell her that it's wrong. Oftentimes, she gets it. Now, she has a whole list that she'll repeat (no biting, pushing, no pinching, etc...) and she'll say "sorry" now when she does something she knows she's not supposed to do.

The key is to be repetitive and consistent.

Re: Is it normal behavior for a 2 year old to push another child?

I've seen DD do it.
She gets possesive over her toys, etc.
Not a lot, but she's done it.
I've seen it done to her as well by other children around her age.
I would think it's normal.
2 is a ROUGHHHHHHHHHHHH age.
ROUGH!

Message edited 7/31/2012 8:58:35 AM.

Re: Is it normal behavior for a 2 year old to push another child?

He is 2.5, perhaps I should edit that, however, he is only doing this to 1 child that we see. And both kids are usually laughing when it happens, so its not like the other child is falling to the ground crying, its more like they are playing. I have only seen it twice, but it apparently has happened more, as the mother has brought it to my attention.

I just cannot figure out why he is only doing this to this particular child.

Re: Is it normal behavior for a 2.5 year old to push another child?

i think it is pretty normal for them at this age. and when i see my ds push, shove & hit - i remind him that it's not nice, people do not like that, they will not let him do it, and to be more gentle when he's playing.

and when i see it done to him, i give him words to use like, don't do that, i don't like that, i won't let you do that - while it's happening.

but generally, i'm yelling out "no hitting!" most of the time ;)

and i do feel it's playful, even though it can look rough. i like to compare it to wild kitties, like tiger cubs wrestling. ds will only do it to his cousin and another friend - both are 2.5 as well. and they do it to him too. he will not do it to younger or older kids.

Re: Is it normal behavior for a 2.5 year old to push another child?

IMO - totally normal at 2.5. Though it may not be a desired behavior it is totally normal.

They are at an age when expressing themselves is hard. Pushing, taking toys, being aggressive is how some children tend to express their emotions that they cannot express in words.

I have seen it at my son's daycare both from other children and even my son. My son (when he just turned 2) also pushed an 18 month old because she kept trying to take a toy he was playing with. The teacher saw the event unfold and she said he tried twice to move away from the 18 month old and when she attempted a 3rd time to take his toy, he pushed her away.

My son was put on time out and it hasnt happened again.

Re: Is it normal behavior for a 2.5 year old to push another child?

Yeahhhhhhh.....

DS does some ugly stuff at 2.

He doesn't understand that the world has anyone else in it except himself at times...

And other times he is the most loving, sharing kid ever.

2 is a crazy age. I'm just holding on!