How Do You Stop a 21 Month Old from Throwing!?!?!?

Throwing is a normal developmental stage. He is learning so much by doing it. I'm sure it is difficult to deal with. But it will pass. Meanwhile, explain why we throw some things and don't throw others. Give him soft balls, or feathers. Make it a game. (he might like picking up toys if he can throw the soft ones in the box)

Ahh, the joys of object throwing.

There are days when my 30 month old empties the kitchen drawers and throws things around. Why not? They make great sounds, sometimes bounce, and mama runs around like a crazy person trying to keep glass objects from shattering and metal objects from clanging.

It is tough because you really can't have a "no throwing" rule because it is okay to throw some things in some places.

But we do have a "no throwing at the mama/papa/cat/baby brother" rule and
I do have place rules like "no throwing in the kitchen" and object rules, "no throwing plates".

But it is a game, so if I am around I stop the action and say in a crazy mama voice "oh there's no throwing that measuring tape in the kitchen" and then ask my son what he can throw. Sometimes he has an answer that is acceptable or I will feed him one. "Yes! We can throw the ball down the hall or yes, we can throw the elephant in the playroom. So then we act on it. And make a biiiigggg deal of doing it. I throw wildly and then he does it and it's fun and he practices his skills and it's all good!

You will notice they will start to make their own rules with silly voices. My son would run in with a plate and say "throw the plate at the cat? Noooo!" and then he'd give an alternative idea and we'd run down the hall and do it.

We go outside and throw orange peels when we are peeling our oranges or throw socks at each other when folding laundry....

He will get it! I promise...just redirect and state a rule and then go let him throw something!

It isn't fun, but this too shall pass! Good luck!

It seems you have tried redirection and time outs. I would give one warning then put him somewhere he cannot get to those things...in his room maybe? Or in the corner. If he gets up, put him back. You may need to watch him like a hawk until he starts to listen and stops throwing heavy things.

I suggest using "No thank you" and your "Nice voice" when telling him instead of yelling (if you are) becuase maybe he keeps doing it because he's getting your attention?

I would not wait it out. Let him know YOU are boss and when you say don't do something, he cannot do it.

I would do the explanation of what can and cannot be thrown. If after that he threw it (or tried to and I caught his hand), that was taken away for X minutes or until the next wake time, etc. If he seemed determined to throw something, I would hand him something that could be thrown. Ooooh, they just love testing those boundaries at that age. My son is now 23 months, and getting much better about it, although he still loves to throw. The consistency was the main thing.

I wouldn't wait it out, although I wouldnt have high expectations of him changing his ways overnight. You'll have to just sternly and firmly repeat and redirect consistently until he 'gets' it. If you don't say anythign at all, he'll think its ok and even be encouraged by it.

It's funny because just last nite my 19 month old son started to throw his cut up fruit on the ground. I caught his arm right as he was about to throw it and managed to save some pieces, but he was hell bent on throwing it and still had a few pieces in those grubby little fingers! So like a major league pitcher, he hurled it, which ticked me off because I already warned him with a "No." I didn't necessarily lose my temper, but I was mad and grabbed his hands, and yelled out NO quite loudly, pointing at the fruit on the floor so he'd know exactly what I was talking about and why Mommy was upset. He obviously knew it, because then in his sweetest baby voice he offered me his beloved blankie and when I didn't react, he put his arms around my neck for a hug.

He's a sly little devil... but that also proved to me that he knew he did something wrong.

I LOVE that you asked this question! My grandson does the same thing (same age, too). While I'm all about developmental milestones, this one I would like to sit out for :) Can't wait for the suggestions, sorry I don't have one for you..

This is normal behavior, though you and your spouse don't approve of the throwing...it is normal for your son's age...my son went through this and even at 3 he's still throwing things.

I don't feel there's a need to get that upset over it. Remember also that children do things to push and establish their boundries...try diverting his attention after he throws something. For example, your watching a movie, your son throws his sippy cup, instead of getting upset..simply point out something in the movie ("Oh wow, did you see what McQueen was doing with Mater")....if your son notices that the bad behavior is having minimal effects on you, he'll change or stop it.

Not right away...your son is only 21 months old after all...but as he gets older he'll pick up that bad behavior gets little attention. Let me clarify that this is not to say that now or through the years you ignore or divert attention to bad behaviors...I'm saying for something small like this, I found that it's best to take their attention to something else..let them know the behavior isn't acceptable ("We don't throw things hunny") and then divert their attention.

Hope this helps....good luck.

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