DS won't stop throwing

[Salyo]

Our DS is currently 2yrs and 3 months old and we have had a real struggle with trying to stop him throwing objects for almost a year now.

I understand that children throw things but this is relentless. He throws anything, not just toys between 10 - 20 times per day!!

He never throws at people but of course things do sometimes bounce and occasionally people get hit and objects get broken.

We have had to leave play dates, playgroups, cafes etc on many occasions because he won't stop throwing stuff.

I feel like we've tried anything and everything to get him to stop but nothing works. Whatever method we use to tell him off he just goes right back in and throws again within seconds.

Has anyone else had this problem? What worked for you? I would be so so grateful for some advice!

[PrincessHairyMclary]

The thing is it's not so much a problem but an early years schema basically the way young children learn is grouped into several different types of activities and each child will lean more to one of these types. Your DS falls into the trajectory category, instead of trying to get him to stop which he really won't if that's how he is designed to learn you need to find away of incorporating it. So let him throw particular (soft) things.

I appreciate its annoying as an adult, my DD fell into (and at 6 is still in) the enveloping stage and will attempt if given half the chance to wrap anything and everything in wool, toilet roll or sellotape. Or stick things in envelopes or wrap herself in a box of blanket.

[Didiusfalco]

My DS was terrible for throwing things. I was forever leaving playgroups/friends houses early because he'd hurled something and hurt someone with it. Was definitely worse when he was tired, but such a difficult and frustrating phase. This may not be helpful but nothing i did actually made any difference. the thing that changed was his language skills improving, so i think it was pre-verbal frustration. Hang in there it will probably improve of its own accord. My ds is now a very well behaved 6 year old.

[Salyo]

Thank you both so much for your help. I hadn't heard of schemas before by having read this web page now I can relate to some many of the example behaviours given.

I guess it implies then that I won't be able to stop my DS throwing but I can instead redirect the urge to something more appropriate or throwing in a safer manner/environment. I don't know though, how I'm supposed to do this when we're sat in a cafe trying to eat lunch or at a friends house on a play date! Hmmmm

It's also oddly comforting in a way to learn that other mums have tried everything to stop their child throwing and it hasn't worked. It's reassuring because in a way I can stop doubting parenting abilities. X