3-Step Strategy to Use When a Child Hits

In the moment when a child hits, you are responsible for safety, relationships, and learning—all at once. This focused guide gives you a clear, repeatable response so you can move from reacting in crisis to leading with calm, confident practice.

Designed specifically for early childhood educators, this strategy helps you respond in the moment while reinforcing social-emotional skills and preserving trust with children and families.

Inside this PDF, you will:

• Learn a simple 3-step response you can use immediately when hitting happens in your classroom.
• Understand how to keep every child safe while modeling calm, emotionally literate leadership.
• Gain clear language you can use with children in the moment—without shaming, blaming, or escalating.
• Strengthen your own professional confidence so you can address challenging behavior with clarity and purpose.

Save this guide for quick reference during your day, and share it with colleagues so your team can respond to hitting with a consistent, confident approach.