2 year old throwing things and pushing

[KohLanta]

My two year old has started throwing toys and pushing other children away when he's at nursery. He's at nursery part-time. He's usually a cheerful lovely boy but lately he's been fussy with food and a bit erratic.

There have been no obvious changes at home and we are a stable loving family.

Does anyone have any advice?

Thank you

My son went through a little pushing stage, it lasted a week so he was pretty quick out of it.
Nursery would basically tell him no, kind hands etc.
I would tell him not to do it, it's not nice etc.

There was no specific trigger either for my son I think they just pick it up off each other at nursery.

Thanks @HSKAT that's reassuring! I hope it's just a phase!

He’s developing and testing forces, dynamics and his own physical limits. His brain wants to know what happens when you throw things - it doesn’t matter to him whether it’s a tomato or a heavy plastic toy. It’s the same with other little children - if they’re close to him he’ll want to push them away - he might just be frustrated in the moment with lack of personal space or just ‘seeing what happens’.

The main thing is that you observe and anticipate anything harmful so you can intervene before the damage is done. Children repeat these actions continually until they master them - so you stopping and distracting him to teach him about consequences (‘we use kind hands’) won’t impede him. Throwing a sponge football is fine - throwing a metal toy car is not. Explain to him in simple terms why.