Self-hitter

Getting attention is a great thing for any kid, no matter the mechanism or path used to get it. Your daughter only knows that when she has a tantrum or self injures, she is getting your attention. The likelihood that this is something else has got to be small, but can't be ignored.

Try this. When she starts throwing a fit, walk away. Don't turn around, don't look, don't talk with her. If she comes running to you and brings her fit with you, tell her nicely and calmly (yeah, right, easier said than done, but try) that you can't hear her because she is too loud, and walk away again. I have done this in HEB, WalMart, Costco, the park, etc...but only when I know the environment is safe, and no one can grab my children etc. If this works, and it probably will just because of the shock to their egos that their fit is not involving the world, use the technique as long as you can. I still use it on my 9 yr old when I have to. (not that his fits are so public anymore...).

But, if your daughter continues to hit herself...well, tell her if she wants to hit something, she can it a pillow, get her a special pillow for that..may be a black square pillow or something that can be labled: Hitting Pillow...and let her go at the pillow. Encourage her to hit the pillow at the first sign of frustration that is overwhelming to her. And tell her when she is calm and can talk to you, you are there to listen to her.

If she continues to hit herself and or hurt herself, talk to your doctor, and a professional if need be. You don't need to have her learn that injuring herself gets attention or is a stress relief. That, as you can imagine, leads to big big problems as a teenager!

Good luck, and our thanks to you and your husband and family for his service. God bless!

My son does the same thing. When he is told no or get into trouble for something he hits hisself and falls to the ground crying, all he is doing is throwing a fit and wants us to pick him up and make him stop. I just tell him to stop and to go lay down till he decides to behave and stop hurting himself. Just tell her that she is going to hurt herself and treat her like she just hit someone else.

I am not yet a mom but im expecting so take this with a grain of salt if you wish...I think i would suggest ignoring that behavior..Children always do something to get attention negative or positive acknowledge only good behavior ...
I could be wrong....Just a thought

USAF!!! =)
Have you tried holding and rocking her when she is doing this, making shhhhhhh noises, it's ok, mommie loves you, that kind of thing?

My dd used to do this at that age. I punished her just like I would if she hit someone else. I told her that hitting is not good and unexceptable! It hurts and it is not nice. She is an important girl and she does not deserve to be hit. Tell her that she is not allowed to hit your precious little girl and she will go to time out if she does it anymore. She is probobly trying to push her boundries and see how far she can go. I would treat it like any other misbehavior. It is like a temper trantrum. She is probably hitting herself instead of throwing things, or screeming, etc. She just doesnt know how to express her anger. You can give her an alternative, like hitting a pillow, using her words, or something like that.
good luck