Michelle,

If your instincts tell you that you should ignore the stuffed animal “hitting” as well as the “real hitting” then use the same technique. When you are away from home, use a stroller or car seat for time-out, but remember it is not the place you send your child to, but that you, as parents, do not attach to him when he is doing behaviors like hitting that you don’t like! As far as leaving when there is conflict, I do not mean “leave completely” just remove your child and the message you send to him is that you will protect him from harm or others and you will be modeling what he should do when another child harms him…and that is to leave.
Hope that helps?

See you next week, Ann