DS of a good friend has been going through a phase for about a year now of really violent behaviour. He is three and a half years old.

Everything I read says it is just a phase and he will grow out of it but I am not so sure.

He hits hard, wrestles, jumps on others kids heads, gets hard toys and whacks them over heads - and not just kids, he does it to adults too!!!! He punched me in the BBs the other day and has hit DH in the delicate bits too. He is extremely defiant and no strong talking to or time out has any effect. It washes straight over the top of him and continues to get worse. This child is an absolute menace when he is in this mood.

I don't want my children playing with him anymore.

His parents are a couple of the most genuine, lovely people you will ever meet and I don't want to lose their friendship.

Has anyone been through anything similar and are there any cures?

I really believe this child has a medical problem. He rarely sleeps through the night and his behaviour goes really off and he gets extremely grumpy if he is at all hungry.

Can anyone point me somewhere where I can tactifully suggest to my friend where she can get some help? She is over it too! He is violent towards her too.

Thanks for your help.