Your child just hit someone. Or kicked you. Or bitten another child at nursery. What do you do in the next ten seconds? When children lash out physically, it's easy to panic, raise your voice, or wonder whether you've done something wrong. But hitting, kicking, and biting don't automatically mean your child is aggressive, naughty, or deliberately trying to hurt someone. What matters is understanding what's happening, keeping everyone safe, and teaching your child what to do instead. In this episode of Big Feelings, Calm Families, Joanna Voss tackles one of parenting's most stressful challenges with practical advice, relatable examples, and her usual dose of humour. You'll discover why young children sometimes hit, kick, or bite when they're frustrated or overwhelmed, how to respond immediately without shouting or shaming, and how to set clear boundaries that protect everyone involved. Joanna also explores why toddler biting can need a different approach, how to teach safer ways to express frustration, and why a meaningful apology involves more than simply making a child say "sorry." For families dealing with repeated aggression, she explains when to look more closely at underlying needs and when professional support may help. The central message? Your child's feelings are allowed. Hurting people isn't. And both things can be true at once. Whether you're managing toddler biting, preschool hitting, sibling fights, or a child who struggles to control their reactions, this episode offers realistic tools you can begin practising at home. 📚 Featured book The Anger Management Guide for Kids by Joanna Voss explores practical tools, age-appropriate activities, and communication strategies for helping children recognise and manage anger. Get the book: https://edenrootpress.com/product/the-anger-management-guide-for-kids/ Explore Joanna's complete parenting collection: https://edenrootpress.com/big-feelings-calm-families/ 🎧 More from Joanna Voss Visit the official podcast page: https://edenrootpress.com/podcasts/big-feelings-calm-families/ Follow Big Feelings, Calm Families on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube for realistic parenting tools, clearer boundaries, and practical ways to handle your family's biggest feelings.
