Controlling a boisterous three-year-old boy

[FinalFantasyFan]

I have a 3 year old (he just turned three last month), and for the most part, he is a lovable, kind, and really sweet little boy. He attends daycare during the week, and he behaves very well there, gets along great with the other kids, and no issues have been raised. He seems to be progressing normally in his language development, and he can sit down and let me read him a story, or play with his play dough/train set etc. But then occasionally he thinks it's hilarious to throw his toys around, and then run up to us and hit us (not in an aggressive way, he just laughs thinking it's funny). When we try and reprimand him, he just laughs. When he is in this mindset, I have no idea how to control him. I don't want to resort to shouting at him (which doesn't work anyway), but I'm at a loss as to how to get him to calm down in case he breaks something or hurts himself. Any helpful advice would be appreciated!

If you have a garden I'd say 'we play like that outside' and send him out with a ball than he can throw around or kick. If it's raining just put waterproofs on him.

Yes, how much outdoors time does he get? I would be aiming for at least 3 hours a day out in the fresh air, split over 2 or 3 sessions. Waterproofs and wellies for all of you.

Try reading calmer, happier, easier boys. That helped me.

They offer phrases to try, and mostly in my house it's worked. Things like "the new rule is we only throw things outside. Can you tell me the rule?" then the next time something is thrown inside you ask them the rule again. It's been incredible for me. I rarely shout now, I just ask the rule, sometimes it takes a while but they said it back with a sheepish look and then independently act on the rule. Game changer!!!

Also my boy (and nephews, and brothers) all NEED to let their energy out. They need rough and tumble play, wrestling, running around outside, so much more than my daughter, and nieces. I never wanted to play into stereotypes but that one is hard to ignore! If they're not getting outside time/energy expelling time and also enough good attention from a trusted adult then it comes out in impish behaviors.

Some things we do;

• Obstacle courses (works inside and outside)
• "Treasure" hunts (I have a load of really simple pictures on scraps of paper, like the kettle, toilet, cot, armchair etc). They go to the place on the picture and a new picture tells them where to go next. Then I hide a snack, or a toy they've not seen for a while etc at the end of the trail)
• Rough and tumble play with an adult - we position ourselves on the floor in the lounge and he'll launch himself from one item of furniture onto one of us so we can throw him onto the couch. I never thought I'd abuse my furniture like that, was brought up in a place where the couches were not for soft play. But playing like this makes the whole week better, so feels worth it. Another loved game is with the ball pit balls, the kids have to get them back into a box as quickly as possible, but every now and again I "accidently" knock the box over, or I'm trying to get them out of the box quicker than they can put them in. They love it! So many laughs and they're usually out of breath by the end.
• races any chance we get - walking home from the supermarket, from the car to the park gates etc Often I just do "can you do x in 5 seconds" and he's off.

These ways it feels like you're creating connection time whilst also burning energy. He also gets lots of independent play time, but when it comes to wearing him out it's better if I'm right there offering ideas.