My son throws everything!?

Question

My 19 month old son recently has started throwing everything! I have a 5 month old daughter and I'm concerned a flying object will hit her. How can I break him of this habit? I've tried explaining that only balls are for throwing, I've tried putting him in time-out and I'm tried spanking his hand. Nothing is working! Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Rule of thumb...ignore the negative and reward the positive. At that age he wants to do great things he gets alot of praise for so take him over to an area that he CAN throw something to or at and congratulate him each time he does it. If he starts throwing other things pick him up and take him over to the throwing area and praise him to throw there. The hard part about this will be consistency. Very hard to do especially by the end of the day when your tired and don't feel like throwing the ball or taking him to his area but keep up the good work and within a couple of weeks he will look forward to being able to do all the throwing he wants to - in a special area.

Answer 2

Spanking doesn't work.

Simple concept if there's nothing to throw, he can't throw anything.

So..take away, and I mean really away so he can see it, like way up on the top shelf of a closet, anything he throws.

It may take a few tries but soon as he realizes he LOSES anything he throws, he'll quit or the room will be free of things to throw.

It's hard having two so close as he's really too little to get that he has to share you so he's doing what he can to get your attention.

If you have some help, a family member, a neighborhood teen or even dad, try alloting more "just mom and me" time for him too. That may help settle him down so he won't see so much need to seek negative attention.

Answer 3

I also think this is jealousy, note when he is throwing the things, Is it when you are dealing with the sibling. If so just make sure he can't throw anything that can break or hurt the baby. It sounds more like a phase than anything. You probably would not notice it as much if you didn't have the new baby. Although taking things from him, swattng his hand or time out can work IF you are consistent!!!!!!Good Luck!

Answer 4

I wouldn't hit his hand, children have tiny bones in their hands that are easilly broken. 19 months is really too young to be spanking, he will not associate the pain of the spanking with the misdeed. I recommend taking away the toy for a day, and giving him a toy that is ok to throw, like a Nerf ball.

Answer 5

If he throws it once, warn him that if he does it again, you will take it away. He more than likely will do it again then, to test the boundaries, and you have to follow through and take it away. He will more than likely cry, but you can't give in. Get down to his level, explain why you took it from him, and that if he throws, things will get taken away. A few minutes later, once he has gotten over having the toy or whatever taken away, just set it down in his room or with his toys, so that he can play with it again, but don't give it back to him. This probably won't work so well with food, but if you start doing it with his toys and follow through, you can say that you will take his food away if he throws it again, and he will believe you, and more than likely continue eating happily. If he does throw it again, take the food away, explain why you took it, give him a minute to calm down, and then let him know he can have his food back, as long as he doesn't throw it again. If he throws it again, start the process over again. It may get frustrating and take a while, but as long as you do this same thing every single time, he will learn that he can not throw. Remember, give a warning, and then if he does it again, follow through, no matter what!

Answer 6

Sounds like it might be a case of jealousy. He is throwing because he wants your attention. Unless he is throwing things at the baby, IGNORE HIM! Then when he hasn't done it in a while pick him up and cuddle him telling him what a good boy he is. Also get him involved with his little sister. Tell him how he is so important now because she will need him to teach her how to do things he has already learned. Maybe he can "help" change her and feed her. Soon he will be caught up in the "fun" of big brotherhood and jealousy will go out the window.

Answer 7

You have to disipline him. Nothing has worked because he doesn't see it as punishment. He doesn't care if he sits in "time out" or you slap his hand, that's not on his level.
Simple, when he throws his toy, he doesn't get that toy. You have to make him do something he doesn't want to do as a form of punishment. Take something away from him that is dear to him when he starts acting up, not 2 hours later.
Persistance is the key, he is going to get 10 times more fussy when you starting putting your foot down, but it is all a matter of control. You have to prove that you are not going to let him do it.
Be firm and follow through, each time he asks up.

Answer 8

First off, you need to satisfy his urge to throw ... give him opportunity to throw a ball somewhere.

Then, tell him no when he throws his toys, if he does not stop, take them away, if he continues with another toy, put him in time out, if he then keeps going, begin taking away favored toys (although you should never take away his lovey, that's sacred to him lol).

Then role-play it with him. Have his teddy bear "throw" something and chastise the teddy bear. Then ask him to tell the bear not to throw stuff because his sister might get hit. Compliment him on being a good care-take of his sister.

Answer 9

I'm having the same problem with my 18 mo old son... I've just been putting him in timeout for a couple minutes each time I see him do it. I'm not sure thats working but possibly, he doesn't throw things QUITE as much as he used to.

Answer 10

Spank him. I'm sort of old fashioned in that way, but I think children really respond to pain/discipline association. Good luck with whatever you decide.