please reassure me that i am doing this right ...

[CherryBombMama]

...or give me some new ideas....

my 16m old throws everything he can get a hold of. its not a throw-it-at-you kind of throw. its more throw-it-any-direction-without-even-looking-then-run! kind of throw.

so for his age, is it appropriate that i follow after him constantly saying, "drive the car*, its not a ball." then take it away if it continues to be thrown.

*if its not a car, its anything else that can fit into his hand. my ds1 did not do this, so .... if i just keep repeating this and redirecting, it will stop eventually right?!?! everyone around me is very "mainstream" so im feeling less sure of myself ...

[Kedrosami]

Maybe keep a ball in your pocket (something soft and lightweight for indoors) and when he starts throwing stuff, say, "No, don't throw that--Only balls are for throwing!" then take away the offending object and put the ball in his hand instead. This way you honor his impulse (and really, it's great he is learning hand eye coordination, body control and physics!) while still making him aware of the rules.

If you are particular about only throwing balls outside, you'd have to take him outside every time, which could get old and may not be practical if it's cold where you live...so I'd stick with an obvious inside toy, like soft & furry, and just let him have fun with it.

That's what I'd do anyway!

[tooraloora]

My DS (also 16 months) has been going through this, except he does frequently throw at people, too (it's his less than ideal way of initiating a game of catch). I remind him that we only throw balls, and help him find one. If he continues to throw a specific item after asked not to, I put it away. It gets way worse when he's really wound up and over stimulated. When he's running around like a spaz throwing everything he can snatch before I can stop him, I'll usually scoop him up, go to a different room and sway back and forth with him talking or singing to him softly until he chills out. Then we go back to where we were before the crazy started and try it again.

And yes, it will stop eventually. I know my 6 year old went through this (along with numerous other frustrating antics) once upon a time. I don't remember how long it took for her to stop, though.

[carmel23]

We have some lightly, squish balls that DS is allowed to throw in the house.  One is rubbery and as perfect for that age because he couldn't bite it, but if it crashed into something it wouldn't break.  Felted wool balls are great for this as well.

I agree with having some things he *is* allowed to throw, and maybe getting a basket or something as a target. 

My son is a thrower, too.  He loves to throw a ball in the air and try to catch it, and is quite good at catch, at almost 24 months. 

So it is easier to say, "throw this" then do not throw everything else! 

[newmamalizzy]

My daughter isn't a huge thrower, but we've used the "this is what you can throw technique" with pretty good success.  She also does well with directed throwing, like throwing things into a box or basket instead of just whipping objects around at random.  I start by throwing something in the box and saying "BAM!"  She thinks it's hilarious.