In the last 24 hours, I have been smacked in the face with a plastic horse, bonked on the side of my head with an Elmo phone, and “accidentally” been the victim of a slap-shot to the back of my skull.

The shot- albeit a good strong one- came from my 5 year old yesterday on eve of his Showcase Hockey playoff game.

I was sitting in the living room, showing the kids my iPad. We were playing the paper football, and air hockey application games to kill time and enjoy each other’s company. Of course the 5-year got bored, so he diverted his activity to “puck” play.

I cranked up “Let’s Go Crazy” from Purple Rain as my first tune ever on the iPad, and heard the soft sounds of plastic hockey stick meeting left over plastic eggs in the back ground. Yes, we still have the multi-colored gems laying around the living room, as the toddler finds great joy in puling them apart and looking for treasures. It’s cheap entertainment.

Just as his royal highness cranked up the line “Let’s look 4 the purple banana / ‘Til they put us in the truck, let’s go!” one of those plastic easter eggs came bolting into the side of my head.

“OUCH!” I proclaimed, looking disgustedly at the young hockey son 5 feet away.

He was laughing. I was not happy. It was a good shot, but I had to send him to the penalty box.

I know for the toddler, it’s just a phase. She doesn’t really mean to strike daddy in the head with phones, remotes or other small objects. We just tell her to to be “gentle” and re-direct her attention. But that 5-year old has been warned several times, and continues to play rough in the house. What if that egg had nailed his little sister?

Does anyone have any good advice for proper punishment/response for situations like these?