One thing they never tell you before becoming a parent is that at some point in their formative years, your little darling will turn around and belt you one.

They might even do it a few times. Much to your delight.

It’s hard not to take it personally, but hitting is often a young child’s way of communicating how they feel when they don’t quite have the words to express it.

As a result, they smack you one – or they smack their sibling. Perhaps they’ve hit another child at nursery recently, too? (Cue you feeling like a terrible parent.)

So what on earth can you do about it?

Well, according to parenting coach and social worker Gen Muir there are some dos and don’ts for tackling the issue.

In a TikTok video which has been viewed 1.8 million times, Muir suggested parents should steer clear of a few phrases, including “gentle hands” (because it’s not very clear) and “we do not hit!” because it might shame children, not to mention confuse them as they literally just hit you.

Another phrase parents might want to avoid is: “when you hit it makes mummy/daddy sad.”

“We want to teach our child that........

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