[Stormster]

I would love some advice re: what to do with DS's sudden desire to hurl his toys. Yesterday he started throwing wood blocks at me. (I had to hide those) This morning he was throwing other toys.

Please tell me what to do! His accuracy was amazing considering he can't even throw a ball properly yet!

[startedover]

Good question. I will be waiting on the responses also. Our problem is more of a throwing "food" issue, but I am sure they are handled about the same. lol

[nikkianni]

Finally and I have been talking about this all week! Boy, if we put these three in a room together they'd either solve the problem of world hunger or tear down the house!
As for how to get him to stop, I really don't know. I'm figuring it out myself. Right now I retrieve the item and hand it back to DD and tell her to play nice.
With her the flinging is usually because she's frustrated with whatever it is she tossed. Although sometimes it's just for the fun of watching things fly.

[finallyamom0310]

Yep, Nikki and I are in the same boat. Then last night instead of DD throwing stuff she started jumping on the bed. The twin bed that is a trendle so a bit taller than most beds. I had to pull her off the bed two times before Daddy got involved and boy she didn't like that. Maybe the Daddy's need to reprimand?

[binkybear]

For throwing toys I'd try to re-direct his energy, good arm and good eye
Maybe get him a soft basket and make a game of it...toss the toys into the basket. OR if you don't want him throwing random toys around get him specific toys that can be thrown (bean bags, balls, etc). When he goes to whip a "non throwing toy" redirect him to the toys you can throw. I think he's old enough to start this kind of play and learning.
Start looking at those little basketball nets, some are plain and simple and some have all the bells and whistles of lights sounds and cheering

[JenC]

We give J something he can throw, like a small ball, if he just wants to throw. If he doesn't want the ball and just wants to hurl his blocks (or whatever), we explain that toys aren't for throwing and they disappear overnight. If he throws out of anger at something, we figure out why he's angry and deal with that.

[minibus]

Because we have an infant as well, DD isn't allowed to throw toys. She gets the toy taken away for the day and gets a timeout. Overly strict, perhaps, but a rule that we must set for DS's safety. DD can't generalize well enough to understand that sometimes she can throw and sometimes she can't.

[shy_bear]

A. also throws toy, esp. the wooden blocks. I take them away, but then he will just throw something else! I know it is the age...I tell him it hurts people when he throws toys at them. I don't think it is sinking in!!!

[Stormster]

Those wooden blocks hurt! I'm going to get some beanbags and soft balls and redirect.

[mondk]

Storm: Joshie just started doing this about 2 days ago...but instead of throwing them around, he throws them at me because he wants to watch ME play with them. I have a huge bruise on my shin from when he threw his Elmo piano at me. I just say "Gentle, gentle" like we've done when he pets our cats. So far, nothing has changed.

He can also climb up on the couch and it scares me half to death. Tonight I found him on top of a footstool trying to reach the light switches. While I love that he is becoming more independent, I'm scared too...like that he is going to pitch himself off the sofa and bump his head or something.

Blessings, Michelle

[RavenSong]

Storm, congratulations...it sounds like E is right on target for his age! I love Nerf toys ~ you know those orange foam-filled things? They don't hurt at all, and they don't break windows or lamps or glass!

Meanwhile, I'd keep the wooden blocks out of sight for a while. I wonder if they make Nerf blocks, lol?!!

[RobinKay]

For my autistic children, throwing things was a constant problem. Our strategy was "overcorrection". It is time consuming, but if the adults commit to it, you will extinguish the behavior.

When the little one throws something, physically assist them to go pick it up and put it away appropriately or assist them to use it correctly. Then you toss it away again, and help them go get it again. And again. And again. Ten times. Every time they throw the object, any object.

This worked for several severely autistic children who threw their work materials during their work sessions. We got them all to stop, every one of them. One boy would constantly take things in the grocery store and dump in mom's shopping cart. Making him put it back 10 times stopped that behavior pretty fast.

You have to make the decision how important this is, how big a problem. If you decide to use the overcorrection technique, it is a big committment in time and energy. All adults have to respond the same way or it will turn into a game and make things worse.

Be sure to use a "flat affect" when doing the overcorrection. Not smiling, not angry--very matter of fact, even if they begin to cry and refuse to pick up the toy. That will likely happen, by the way.

Food for a toddler I'd handle differently. Just take the food away.

[Stormster]

Originally Posted by RavenSong

Storm, congratulations...it sounds like E is right on target for his age! I love Nerf toys ~ you know those orange foam-filled things? They don't hurt at all, and they don't break windows or lamps or glass!

Meanwhile, I'd keep the wooden blocks out of sight for a while. I wonder if they make Nerf blocks, lol?!!

Raven do you still have that nerf suit? Seriously do they even MAKE Nerf products anymore? Nerf and Whiffle Balls. My age is showing? Hold on I have to get a Tab out of the fridge!

[Stormster]

Originally Posted by RobinKay

For my autistic children, throwing things was a constant problem. Our strategy was "overcorrection". It is time consuming, but if the adults commit to it, you will extinguish the behavior.

When the little one throws something, physically assist them to go pick it up and put it away appropriately or assist them to use it correctly. Then you toss it away again, and help them go get it again. And again. And again. Ten times. Every time they throw the object, any object.

This worked for several severely autistic children who threw their work materials during their work sessions. We got them all to stop, every one of them. One boy would constantly take things in the grocery store and dump in mom's shopping cart. Making him put it back 10 times stopped that behavior pretty fast.

You have to make the decision how important this is, how big a problem. If you decide to use the overcorrection technique, it is a big committment in time and energy. All adults have to respond the same way or it will turn into a game and make things worse.

Be sure to use a "flat affect" when doing the overcorrection. Not smiling, not angry--very matter of fact, even if they begin to cry and refuse to pick up the toy. That will likely happen, by the way.

Food for a toddler I'd handle differently. Just take the food away.

Robin thanks. Sounds hard but I'm going to try. He tends to do well when I work with him. Thanks for the advice. I do think it's important. Do you think it's a mistake to give him soft toys he's allowed to throw while doing this? Would it only confuse him?

[RavenSong]

Oh, no, Stormster! They don't make Nerf anymore?? Just goes to show you that all my nieces and nephews are all grown up now. I haven't been to a Toys R Us for about 5 years, I think.

Tab, huh? YUCK!! I liked Fresca and Squirt. And of course, the real Coca-Cola when it was made with cane sugar, not fructose corn syrup! (You can still get the orginal stuff down in Mexico...when I lived in San Diego, I'd cross the border into Tijuana and bring back the "real thing".

ETA: My youngest brother is expecting a baby boy in a few months, so I get to start shopping at the toy stores again. YAY!!!