Headbutting

For the last several weeks, my daycare provider has clued me into some unusual behavior. Andrew is headbutting the other kids. Not because he’s angry or mad, but because he thinks it’s funny. He sends a few of the boys into crying fits, while he stands by chuckling.

Precursor to a sadistic, psychotic personality disorder? I don’t think so.

I think Andrew is in a sensory mode, trying to communicate but with limited means. He can’t form too many words, can’t walk yet, and he doesn’t know how to play with others, let alone share.

My daycare provider keeps separating him from the group and I’m not sure that’s the best remediation, although I’m at a lost for a better alternative.

I’m hoping he grows out of this phase (if it is a phase). Socializing toddlers this young poses a myriad of challenges. They still aren’t too self-aware, have only a slight concept of right and wrong behavior and want to touch/feel everything around them. I just wish he wasn’t sensing with his forehead.

Metroparent.com says, “Typically manifesting between 18 months and 2 years old, the behavior is a way for toddlers to send a message. It should subside once they start talking at around 3 or 4.”

Any thoughts/recommendations?

6 thoughts on “Headbutting”

  1. Trish says:
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    I wouldn’t worry too much about it…Some kids bite…some kids headbut. Their little brains are not cognitively capable of thinking like adults so, we can’t expect them to. He is on a journey of learning and eventually learn that headbuttting is not such a great idea. Little boys have tons of energy and few skills to help them release that energy in an acceptable manner. I guarantee you that 15 years from now you will all be sitting around laughing hysterically about how your beautiful, well adjusted son used to headbut his classmates.

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  2. Dawn says:
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    I’m afraid I don’t agree with too much laid-back-ity here. If he is old enough to be placed into social situations then he should be old enough to cope with the concept of socially unacceptable behavior. I think that the day care provider (and the other children, for that matter) should express, in the moment, the fact that they disapprove of this behavior. It needs to be expressed immediately or your son won’t remember what he did that she is disapproving of. I think it’s a mistake to just shrug and hope it’s just a phase because how is the kid supposed to learn that this behavior is not okay? Just my two cents.

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  3. mummzydearest says:
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    He’s one so I’m trying to give the age the benefit of the doubt. I think the child care provider is separating him now from the group. When I see it, I correct it, but I’m not sure he understands yet.

    Thanks for the input. It’s always helpful to know the other side of the coin!

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