Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

How to handle throwing things

1 reply

Anushka2 · 16/03/2012 20:09

My little boy is 19months old and for about 4 or 5 months now his favourite thing to do is throw things particularly food, cutlery etc, from his high chair.

At the start we had decided that we wanted to go down a peaceful route (for want of a better term) of discipline, ignoring any bad behaviour and making a big deal out of the good alongside talking to him about why certain behaviours are not acceptable (i know he is only 19months but it amazes me what he understands at times).

Overall he is great, the little tantrums that were starting to creep in when he wanted something he couldn't have stopped, he tidies his toys away and is generally a pleasure to take to playgroups etc, but we just can't crack this throwing habit. Unfortunately I think we are now at the point where he is picking up on our frustration and laughs when he does it.

I know this probably seems petty and he will grow out of it but you know when something just really starts to annoy you! Any advice would be much appreciated.

Just one final note, I would never criticise anyones parenting but we have chosen not to use smacking as punishment in case anyone was thinking of suggesting it.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
ShowMethePony · 16/03/2012 23:12

Is it all the way through the meal or just when he's done? I have to be pretty quick to spot when ds is finished or else everything gets thrown. He's grown out of the experimenting chucking stuff all the way through.

Have you tried changing the situation? Ds has been in a booster seat since 17 months so its not quite as easy to drop things. Or have a few picnics on an old tablecloth on the floor. I'd also take away cutlery if its dangerous throwing and stick to letting him eat with fingers or plastic spoons.

Just try some new things for a while and the novelty might make him forget about throwing.

Also give him a cloth and get him to help wipe up mess he's made. Yes he'll probably just smear it around but its a good lesson.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page