Slap happy child

[mom-in-alberta]

I agree with the interruption theory. And it can be exhausting for a day or two, because you literally do not allow the child to leave your side, or you don't leave their side. You must shadow them and watch for the hand raising up to hit. Then assertively stop the action and state that we do NOT hit, because hitting hurts/ is owies, etc.
Just make sure this doesn't mean that you are sitting beside the child "playing" all day long, because that is not a negative consequence at all. You are there to observe and cease the behaviour, for the good of all, lol!