Stopping a toddler throwing?

[weeblueberry]

DD1 seems to have started a throwing phase. It's not bad (just the occasional toy when she's bored) but I'm worried she's going to hit her sister who's 3 months and just started shuffling around the floor. I've threatened to take stuff off her but she just shrugs and goes onto the next toy when I do.

Any suggestions?

[SophieJenkins]

I sympathise. I have a 2.6yo and he is awful - he chucks everything, mainly at us.

Only option is to remove object and distract. Be very firm with taking things away, even if they cry, it won't last long.

I find myself mentally putting him in a cage at times. There is a gap in the market

[ChazzerChaser]

Give her something she can throw. We have soft balls and if something else gets thrown remind we don't throw that, would you like a ball instead.

[MumOfTheMoment]

I was like a broken record when ds was this age saying "NO THROWING" on a loop 24/7.

No advice other than to say they grow out of it eventually.

[weeblueberry]

Thanks all. Chazzer we did consider that but I wasn't sure whether that might encourage her to do it more? If it were just a case of worrying about ornaments or the TV I might not be bothered but a soft ball might still hurt DD2 if hurled at her, no?

[ChazzerChaser]

We use ball pool type balls. They're light so you'd need to really give them some welly to hurt. When offered balls to throw instead, he might throw 1 or 2 but usually moves on to something else so I've not noticed he wants to throw more.

[NoParking]

Have you tried putting the thrown object up high (ie out of reach but in sight) and saying anything that gets thrown goes away until you can play with it nicely? That combined with giving them a soft ball and saying they could go and throw in the garden worked for me.

[weeblueberry]

I have tried that NoParking and unless it's a beloved toy she doesn't care. Normally it's one of her Happyland people and since she's got another few million to play with it doesn't affect her.

[NoParking]

Hmm, mine always wanted the one thing that wasn't in reach, but that obviously doesn't work for you.

I think I'd go with handing her a soft ball and sending her somewhere else to throw it (ideally a garden, if you have one).