6yo with ASD obsessed with throwing things, how to stop it?

[Ibytam]

So like the title says my son has in the last 3/4 months developed a complete and utter obsession with throwing things. I’m talking not just balls or things that are made to be thrown but EVERYTHING. He throws them in the air, out of windows, out of the front/back doors etc. he will even throw things over the fence in the garden.

He has now started to do it at school and I’m talking it sounds like it’s ALL he does. He threw scissors randomly the other day and they narrowly missed another child. I was mortified when they told me, he’s not doing it maliciously, it’s almost like he gets an intrusive thought. He will ask for a snack, take one bite of it and then just launch it in the air. Have a sip from his bottle and then throw it across the room.

We have tried every approach possible. Being stern with him, gently telling him, allowing him some soft balls, balloons etc to throw but it seems to be that he wants heavy and chunky toys sometimes as they make a louder bang. He is purely doing it for entertainment/sensory needs but obviously it’s dangerous, we have a 6 month old and 2yo at home too and I’m on edge all the time because of it, I feel like I never, ever can sit down and relax.

He has even randomly woken in the night, threw some teddies down the stairs and then gone back to bed. I actually just don’t understand it. So many toys have broken in the last few months including the sound on his iPad because this was flung in the air. He also threw it over the fence and it got caught in the hedges behind our house. I don’t know how we managed to get it back but we did with great difficulty.

I hate to say it but it’s ruining our lives as a family. I just don’t know how to stop it or redirect it on to something else. He has very limited understanding and speech. We’re awaiting him starting a specialist school and honestly I’m hoping and praying it’s the break we all need as mainstream just is NOT working anymore.

Has DS had a sensory OT assessment and does his EHCP include ongoing sensory OT input?

The school needs to be providing more support and removing access to things like scissors.

Has DS had a home OT assessment? That can look at making the home safer for DS and better meet his needs. For example, they could look at a specialist bed.

At home, I would move as much as possible out of reach and secure as much as possible down. For example, you can get holders for the iPad. That way it can’t be thrown.

Similar with my DS.

Things we have done:

• put fence extenders up in the garden / let all the trees and bushes grow v tall. He still manages to get stuff over but it’s not so bad.
• remove objects as much as possible / be v quick with glasses / mugs to put away when they’re finished being used.
• put things in drawers with child locks, although he’s figured them out now.
• have as much other sensory equipment as we can. Trampoline, peanut ball, beanbag to crash into.
• if he’s getting g a bit wild, trying to do some rough / tumble games that move his limbs in that kind of action safely.

still an ongoing issue, we’ve recently had to replace the TV again, we’ve got a screen protector now. Got to get the ladder out to get the bottles of shaving foam and toiletries down from the porch roof that he flung out of the window.

good luck!

Don’t take any advice from me!

Yesterday, he through a pint glass at a glass lampshade. Rained shards of glass all over.

We’ve got similar and unfortunately we haven’t found any magic solution although our child will now show some awareness not to throw near anybody else and tends to throw things that are unlikely to break.
I would second the suggestion about getting an OT assessment and I’d also suggest trying to make your child pick up whatever they have thrown and put the item in its correct place. There is a chance that the tidying up might act as a deterrent?
Lastly, would getting something like a swingball help - they could then thrown the ball and it would only travel a certain distance.

What about weighted plushies/doorstops. They can be big and heavy but with less to clear up after?

I'm not sure if it would work as luckily nothing my son has started doing (yet...) but he did like to bash the TV (in excitement) and the very expensive TV protector I have to say has been my hubbies best purchase ever!