The Concept of Sorry

While on the Jurassic coast, one day Jamie decided it would be fun to throw one of the Jurassic rocks at mummy. It bloody hurt I can tell you! We tried to get him to say 'Sorry' - or rather daddy did - as I was crying and rubbing the large lump on my head. He refused to say 'Sorry' and just wanted to get back to playing on the beach. Neither of us really knew how to handle it, but once we were back had a look at a few pages on the interest. We were relieved that he isn't some kind of psychopath but in fact quite normal...... and it seems it will be a few months yet before he really understands the concept of 'Sorry'.

Your two year old does not yet have a hard-wired, internalized conscience. Nor is he intellectually at an age of reason (which usually begins at around two-and-a-half). Therefore, making him say "I'm sorry," will have no long-term effect. A punitive approach really doesn't discipline a two year-old. It just teaches them the words that they have to say to get back to playing.

At this age, toddlers usually do not have highly developed social or language skills. Given their lack of verbal ability and interpersonal skills, they often turn to hitting and other forms of aggression (e.g. biting) to express their frustration and anger etc. Removing your child from the scene of the aggression and redirecting his attention to something else is a productive response with this age group. Try being firm and telling him that his hitting hurts and is not allowed. Then leave the room, and leave him to connect your departure with his misbehavior. Over time, this response will result in behavioral changes. Actions such as these have much more of an impact than lecturing, scolding, time-outs and insisting upon an apology.

http://life.familyeducation.com/emotional-development/discipline/41780.html