Parenting With Psychology

Another child takes your toddler's toy, and you freeze or you feel your blood pressure spike at the other parent standing right there, not stepping in. This video walks through exactly what to say and do, whether or not the other parent gets involved.

Toddlers as young as 20 months already actively assert ownership, and by 30 months they're standing their ground against a peer's attempts to take what's theirs, which is part of why these moments feel so constant and so charged (Ross, 2013).

In this podcast:
→ The 3 A's Method: Acknowledge, Anchor, Alternative
→ What to say when it's clearly your child's toy or turn
→ Exactly what to do when the other parent doesn't step in
→ Why freezing teaches the opposite of what you want your child to learn
→ The one line that speaks up for your child without starting a parent-to-parent conflict

✨ Want the full step-by-step system for stopping repeated hitting? Register for the free workshop → https://www.drlindsayemmerson.com/workshop
If your toddler keeps hitting other kids — not a single tap, but real, repeated hitting — you've probably already heard "check in with the hurt child first." That advice is right, but it's incomplete. It doesn't tell you what to actually do about the hitting itself, especially when it keeps happening.
In this episode, I'm walking through the CATCH Method — the exact 5-step sequence I use in my practice for repeated physical aggression in toddlers, including close supervision, physical interruption, and consistent consequences that actually decrease the behavior over time.
Physical aggression is developmentally normal and rises through age 2 to 3 before declining through the preschool years — the real task isn't eliminating the impulse, it's teaching a child to control it (Tremblay et al., 2004).
In this episode: → The CATCH Method for repeated hitting, step by step → Why checking in with the hurt child first isn't the whole answer → The exact one-sentence consequence to state — and how to follow through → What to do when your child hits back → How to rebuild trust with other kids and parents once the hitting stops
💬 Comment CATCH below if repeated hitting is something you're dealing with right now.
#ToddlerHitting #ToddlerAggression #ToddlerDiscipline #ParentingWithPsychology #GentleParenting
New to my podcast?  I'm Dr. Lindsay Emmerson, a clinical psychologist and Mom of 4, and I help parents find that sweet spot between support and structure that psychology research tells us is best for families now and best for our kids in the future.
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Let's connect!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlindsayemmerson
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drlindsayemmerson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@drlindsayemmerson
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Disclaimer: The advice provided on my channel is different from therapy and does not substitute for professional psychological treatment or other types of professional advice or intervention.  Never disregard the advice of a medical professional or postpone seeking professional medical advice related to anything you hear on this channel.  
If you or your child have concerns or need further parenting or personal support, please contact a physician or other qualified local health professional.
00:00 – 00:52 | Intro
00:52 – 02:01 | Why "Check In With the Hurt Child" Isn't the Whole Answer
02:01 – 02:17 | The CATCH Method
02:17 – 03:01 | Getting Close Enough to Catch It
03:01 – 03:56 | Catching It Early
03:56 – 05:31 | The One Sentence That Makes This Effective
05:31 – 07:03 | Actually Removing Them From The Play
07:03 – 08:12 | What To Do Instead of Hitting
08:12 – 11:13 | What This Builds Toward

If your toddler keeps hitting other kids — not a single tap, but real, repeated hitting — you've probably already heard "check in with the hurt child first." That advice is right, but it's incomplete. It doesn't tell you what to actually do about the hitting itself, especially when it keeps happening.

In this episode, I'm walking through the CATCH Method — the exact 5-step sequence I use in my practice for repeated physical aggression in toddlers, including close supervision, physical interruption, and consistent consequences that actually decrease the behavior over time. Physical aggression is developmentally normal and rises through age 2 to 3 before declining through the preschool years — the real task isn't eliminating the impulse, it's teaching a child to control it (Tremblay et al., 2004).

In this episode: → The CATCH Method for repeated hitting, step by step → Why checking in with the hurt child first isn't the whole answer → The exact one-sentence consequence to state — and how to follow through → What to do when your child hits back → How to rebuild trust with other kids and parents once the hitting stops

New to my podcast? I'm Dr. Lindsay Emmerson, a clinical psychologist and Mom of 4, and I help parents find that sweet spot between support and structure that psychology research tells us is best for families now and best for our kids in the future.

------------------------------------------- Let's connect! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlindsayemmerson TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drlindsayemmerson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@drlindsayemmerson -------------------------------------------

Disclaimer: The advice provided on my channel is different from therapy and does not substitute for professional psychological treatment or other types of professional advice or intervention. Never disregard the advice of a medical professional or postpone seeking professional medical advice related to anything you hear on this channel.

If you or your child have concerns or need further parenting or personal support, please contact a physician or other qualified local health professional.

✨ Want a proven way to handle every parenting conflict with confidence? Register for the free workshop → https://www.drlindsayemmerson.com/workshop
Your toddler grabs a toy from another child, and suddenly you're not just managing your kid — you're managing your own embarrassment in front of the other parent. This episode walks through exactly what to say to your child, and how to handle the other adult without over-apologizing.
Toddlers are only just beginning to understand ownership as a concept at all between 24 and 30 months, and that understanding is directly linked to whether they share in the first place.
In this episode: → The 3 A's Method for the moment your child takes someone else's toy → What to say instead of just "give it back" → How to handle the other parent without over-apologizing → Whether your child taking a toy means something is wrong → The exact phrase that turns "give it back" into an actual lesson
💬 Comment GIVEBACK below if this is a moment you've navigated recently.
#ToddlerTakingToys #ToddlerDiscipline #GentleParenting #ParentingWithPsychology #ToddlerSocialSkills
New to my podcast?  I'm Dr. Lindsay Emmerson, a clinical psychologist and Mom of 4, and I help parents find that sweet spot between support and structure that psychology research tells us is best for families now and best for our kids in the future.
-------------------------------------------
Let's connect!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlindsayemmerson
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drlindsayemmerson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@drlindsayemmerson
-------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: The advice provided on my channel is different from therapy and does not substitute for professional psychological treatment or other types of professional advice or intervention.  Never disregard the advice of a medical professional or postpone seeking professional medical advice related to anything you hear on this channel.  
If you or your child have concerns or need further parenting or personal support, please contact a physician or other qualified local health professional.
00:00 – 00:14 | Why Toddlers Grab Toys
00:14 – 00:36 | The Science Behind Sharing
00:36 – 01:04 | The 3 A's That Teach Sharing
01:04 – 01:18 | What To Say To The Other Parent
01:18 – 01:56 | Why Consistency Beats Perfection
01:56 – 02:23 | The Mindset That Helps Parents Stay Calm

✨ Want a proven way to handle every parenting conflict with confidence? Register for the free workshop → https://www.drlindsayemmerson.com/workshop
Your toddler grabs a toy from another child, and suddenly you're not just managing your kid — you're managing your own embarrassment in front of the other parent. This episode walks through exactly what to say to your child, and how to handle the other adult without over-apologizing.
Toddlers are only just beginning to understand ownership as a concept at all between 24 and 30 months, and that understanding is directly linked to whether they share in the first place.
In this episode: → The 3 A's Method for the moment your child takes someone else's toy → What to say instead of just "give it back" → How to handle the other parent without over-apologizing → Whether your child taking a toy means something is wrong → The exact phrase that turns "give it back" into an actual lesson
💬 Comment GIVEBACK below if this is a moment you've navigated recently.
#ToddlerTakingToys #ToddlerDiscipline #GentleParenting #ParentingWithPsychology #ToddlerSocialSkills
New to my podcast? I'm Dr. Lindsay Emmerson, a clinical psychologist and Mom of 4, and I help parents find that sweet spot between support and structure that psychology research tells us is best for families now and best for our kids in the future.
------------------------------------------- Let's connect! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlindsayemmerson TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drlindsayemmerson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@drlindsayemmerson -------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: The advice provided on my channel is different from therapy and does not substitute for professional psychological treatment or other types of professional advice or intervention. Never disregard the advice of a medical professional or postpone seeking professional medical advice related to anything you hear on this channel.
If you or your child have concerns or need further parenting or personal support, please contact a physician or other qualified local health professional.
00:00 – 00:14 | Why Toddlers Grab Toys 00:14 – 00:36 | The Science Behind Sharing 00:36 – 01:04 | The 3 A's That Teach Sharing 01:04 – 01:18 | What To Say To The Other Parent 01:18 – 01:56 | Why Consistency Beats Perfection 01:56 – 02:23 | The Mindset That Helps Parents Stay Calm