Keep Your Hands to Yourself!!!!

[DaycareMom]

I watch a total of 5 children (ages 6,6,5,4,2) We have a few basic rules. The number one rule broken is keeping their hands to themselves. I implemented this rule about 2 years ago when injuries kept happening during hugs or holding hands, etc.
they would hug and one kid would jump on who he was "hugging". They would be holding hands and one kid would start swinging the other around - you get the idea
I figured if it was a simple rule to keep your hands/ bodies to yourselves they would eventually get it and by the time they are in school, should know and practice this rule anyway.
Well, 2 years later with all the same 5 kids and I feel like all I am ever saying is "keep your hands/ bodies to yourself!"
My biggest issue is with the 4 year old, 5 year old and one of the the 6 year olds.

Do any of you have this rule?
Any tips on how to help enforce it? Or get it to stick?

Please help! TYIA

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

Amen! Hands and body to yourself! Say it a million times a day. "he is touching meeeeeeeeeeeee" yup I feel your pain.

[spedmommy4]

In my experience, you'll have an easier time teaching them the difference between soft touch and too rough. Young kids don't have the same need for personal space that adults do. They gravitate towards each other all day.

In my dc, I only correct unsafe or unwanted touching. For example, Joey doesn't want hugs right now. He wants space. Or swinging is to rough. You can give high 5s
(Or whatever) instead.

It's important for kids to know the difference between okay and too rough. It's also really important for them to learn to respect when others don't want to be touched. Just my 2 cents.

HTH

[Unregistered]

Scrict discipline they are old enough to now better

[Heidi]

In my experience, you'll have an easier time teaching them the difference between soft touch and too rough. Young kids don't have the same need for personal space that adults do. They gravitate towards each other all day.

In my dc, I only correct unsafe or unwanted touching. For example, Joey doesn't want hugs right now. He wants space. Or swinging is to rough. You can give high 5s
(Or whatever) instead.

It's important for kids to know the difference between okay and too rough. It's also really important for them to learn to respect when others don't want to be touched. Just my 2 cents.

HTH

I do the same thing here. I just don't think it's realistic to teach them no touching . Humans need touch, and they don't have the boundaries adults do. Even with everyone under 3, I don't usually have issues.

Maybe do a lesson on being gentle, respecting "no", and verbalizing when you don't like something someone is doing to you. Good tools to have!

[MayaB]

Discipline-biting, hitting, pulling hair

What do you do if a director's 2 yr old is the one biting, hitting, pulling hair?! My child is in the same classroom as the director's child and is now exhibiting that behavior and hitting me, etc. If I try to say something, the director gets very angry at me and just says, "That's just how a toddler behaves" (?!). Most children are now starting to mimic that behavior, so incident reports are written up almost daily. My family is asking about bruises on my child and I have to explain that it's happening at the very daycare I work, and the main offender is the director's child. I'm tired of watching my child pulled down by the hair by this child. I guess I need to quit, take my own child out of there and report this...any advice? I can't afford to lose my job, but I don't want other teachers (who watch this behavior and I believe are afraid to lose their job so they do nothing) - and I don't want parents to have to endure this.

[Play Care]

What do you do if a director's 2 yr old is the one biting, hitting, pulling hair?! My child is in the same classroom as the director's child and is now exhibiting that behavior and hitting me, etc. If I try to say something, the director gets very angry at me and just says, "That's just how a toddler behaves" (?!). Most children are now starting to mimic that behavior, so incident reports are written up almost daily. My family is asking about bruises on my child and I have to explain that it's happening at the very daycare I work, and the main offender is the director's child. I'm tired of watching my child pulled down by the hair by this child. I guess I need to quit, take my own child out of there and report this...any advice? I can't afford to lose my job, but I don't want other teachers (who watch this behavior and I believe are afraid to lose their job so they do nothing) - and I don't want parents to have to endure this.

I'd file a complaint. It sounds as if there is a free for all going on in the toddler room
What are the teachers in that room doing? Why isn't anyone right with the aggressor? She shouldn't be able to access the other kids that way.
Have other parents complained?
One of the reasons I started my own child care was because of a bad day care experience with my oldest child. I just couldn't bring my child to a place each day where I felt she wasn't safe.

[daycare]

I do the same thing here. I just don't think it's realistic to teach them no touching . Humans need touch, and they don't have the boundaries adults do. Even with everyone under 3, I don't usually have issues.

Maybe do a lesson on being gentle, respecting "no", and verbalizing when you don't like something someone is doing to you. Good tools to have!

kids need to have loving touches, either from us or from their peers.

We have hug time during circle time so that I can control it and make sure it's gentle. We have hand holding songs that we sing and do the conga line. I make certain to create many opportunities that they can touch each other in proper ways. I would like to say that I create them so much that throughout the day they don't feel the need or want to have to touch each other.

Hope that helps. BTW I have 14 kids all of them are 2-7 yrs.

[littletots]

How about games that involve touch?
- Putting feet together in circles playing "hot potato"
- interlocking arms while walking together on grassy area signing
- leap frog, sack races, tag duck duck goose
Fun interactive games vs open free for all situations

[Blackcat31]

My kiddos don't touch each other.

They can get their touching done anywhere other than daycare.

I don't have any issues with kids needing/wanting/trying to touch each other in any way.