Teaching my sensitive little girl...

[The[cookie]Doctor]

We used 'gentle' instead of 'no'.

I think because I have a bit of a background in CC I try to lend it to my parenting too much. I do not like using 'no' / 'don't' and I focus on positive 'I' messages ('It makes Mummy upset when you hit her, can you kiss it better?) - that hasn't really worked until now but he jumps all over us and sometimes gets over excited and hits.

But at the age your LO is we just used words rather than sentences - 'gentle' or 'pat nicely'.

[Nelle]

It's hard isn't it. We used 'gentle' and showed them what we meant by gentle, getting them to rub us on the arm with their hand. As a result, I have two little boys who go from punching each other to patting each other when they realise I'm watching.