Why Toddlers Throw Toys & How to Redirect the Behavior
Wondering why your toddler prefers launching toys across the room rather than playing with them? You’re not alone; this puzzling behavior affects nearly every family with young children.
I remember the day my two-year-old grabbed his favorite truck and launched it across the living room. It wasn’t anger or defiance in his eyes, just pure curiosity about what would happen next.
When your toddler repeatedly throws toys, it can leave many parents feeling frustrated and worried about their child’s development.
I want to reassure you that this behavior is often completely normal for toddlers. In this post, I’ll explain why toddlers throw toys and share practical strategies on how to redirect this behavior positively while preventing toddlers from throwing toys.
Together, we’ll find gentle ways to guide your little one toward more appropriate play while honoring their natural development.
Why Toddlers Throw Toys: Understanding the Behavior
Understanding why toddlers throw toys is the first step to addressing this behavior. Let me walk you through the most common reasons I’ve observed.
- Exploring Cause and Effect: Your toddler’s brain is like a little scientist, constantly experimenting with the world around them. When they throw a toy, they’re learning about gravity, distance, and how different objects behave.
- Developing Motor Skills: Throwing helps toddlers build important physical skills like arm strength and hand-eye coordination. Your toddler’s throwing phase is actually preparing them for future activities like writing, catching a ball, and even riding a bike.
- Expressing Emotions: Toddlers have big feelings but limited vocabulary to express them. When they feel frustrated, excited, or overwhelmed, throwing becomes their way of communicating these emotions.
- Seeking Attention: Sometimes, throwing toys is an effective way to get a reaction from caregivers. If your toddler notices that throwing gets you to stop what you’re doing and focus on them, they might repeat this behavior.
- Testing Boundaries: Toddlers are naturally curious about rules and limits, and throwing toys is one way they explore social rules. This boundary testing is actually a sign of healthy development, showing they’re learning about social expectations.
- Sensory Seeking and Imitation: Some children throw toys because they crave sensory input from movement, sound, and physical sensations. Toddlers also learn through imitation and might throw toys simply because they’ve seen others do it.
How to Stop a Toddler From Throwing Toys: Proven Strategies
Now, let’s discuss practical strategies to help redirect your toddler’s throwing behavior. Remember, the goal isn’t to stop all throwing. It’s to teach appropriate times, places, and objects for throwing.
1. Set Clear, Consistent Limits
Start by calmly explaining what’s okay to throw and what isn’t. Use simple language like “Balls are for throwing. Blocks are for building.” Keep your tone neutral and matter-of-fact rather than angry or frustrated.
Consistency is key here. If throwing blocks isn’t okay today, it shouldn’t be okay tomorrow either. All caregivers should follow the same rules so that your child receives a clear and consistent message.
2. Teach Alternative Ways to Express Emotions
Help your toddler build their emotional vocabulary by naming feelings for them. When you see them getting frustrated with a toy, you might say, “You seem frustrated that the puzzle piece won’t fit. Let’s try a different approach.”
Offer alternative ways to release big emotions. You might teach them to stomp their feet when angry, do jumping jacks when excited, or squeeze a stress ball when frustrated.
3. Provide Safe Opportunities to Throw
Instead of trying to eliminate all throwing, give your child appropriate outlets for this natural urge. Set up designated throwing areas with soft balls, bean bags, or stuffed animals. Outdoor time is perfect for throwing activities.
You might also create indoor throwing games on rainy days. Toss soft toys into laundry baskets or play gentle catch with stuffed animals. This channels their throwing energy in positive ways.
4. Use Positive Reinforcement
Catch your child playing appropriately and praise them specifically. Instead of just saying “good job,” try “I love how gently you’re stacking those blocks” or “Thank you for throwing the ball outside like we practiced.”
Focus more attention on positive behaviors than on correcting negative ones. When you give more energy to appropriate play, you’re showing your child what behaviors get your positive attention.
5. Interrupt and Redirect
When you see inappropriate throwing about to happen, calmly interrupt and offer an alternative. You might say, “I see you want to throw that block. Blocks are for building. Here’s a ball you can throw instead.”
Keep your interventions brief and matter-of-fact. Long explanations often don’t work with toddlers, and emotional reactions can actually reinforce the behavior by giving it more attention.
6. Create a Predictable Routine
Toddlers feel more secure and behave better when they know what to expect. Create consistent daily routines that include plenty of active play time to help them burn energy appropriately.
Build in regular opportunities for throwing and active play so your child doesn’t feel the need to create these opportunities inappropriately. Tired, hungry, or overstimulated toddlers are more likely to throw toys.
7. Address Sensory Needs
If your child seems to throw toys for sensory reasons, provide alternative sensory experiences throughout the day. This might include play-dough, water play, jumping on a small trampoline, or swinging.
Create a sensory bin with rice, beans, or pasta for your child to pour and scoop. This satisfies their need for tactile input without involving throwing.
What To Do When Your Toddler Throws Toys
Keep this handy guide nearby for those challenging moments when you need quick, effective strategies.
| In The Moment | Long-Term Prevention |
|---|---|
| Stay calm and use a neutral tone | Create consistent daily routines |
| Say, “Blocks are for building, balls are for throwing.” | Schedule regular outdoor throwing time |
| Offer an appropriate throwing alternative | Set up designated throwing areas indoors |
| Redirect to a different activity if needed | Address hunger/tiredness before meltdowns |
| Praise them when they make better choices | Provide sensory activities throughout the day |
Redirection Strategies Checklist
Save this checklist to your phone for easy reference during challenging moments.
Is Throwing Toys Normal for Toddlers?
When your toddler throws toys repeatedly, it’s natural to feel concerned about whether this behavior is normal. Let me put your mind at ease: throwing toys is typically a normal part of toddler development.
Developmental Milestone
Throwing is actually considered a developmental milestone. It shows that your child’s motor skills, cognitive abilities, and understanding of cause and effect are all developing as they should.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes throwing as normal behavior that helps children learn about their environment.
When to Be Concerned
While most toy throwing is perfectly normal, some red flags warrant professional attention. Knowing when to seek help can bring you peace of mind and ensure your child receives any support they may need.
| When to Seek Professional Advice | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Throwing is consistently aggressive | May signal emotional regulation issues or deeper concerns |
| Behavior seems intended to hurt others | Could indicate difficulty with empathy or impulse control |
| No improvement after several weeks of gentle redirection | Suggests the behavior may not be developmentally typical |
| Suspected sensory processing differences | Throwing may be a response to unmet sensory needs |
| Concerns about developmental delays | May reflect broader delays in communication, social, or motor skills |
Conclusion
Remember, when your toddler throws toys, it’s a completely normal part of their development, not a reflection of your parenting.
This behavior shows that your child’s brain and motor skills are developing exactly as they should.
The strategies I’ve shared, from setting clear boundaries to providing safe throwing opportunities, have helped thousands of families successfully redirect this behavior.
Change takes time and patience, but these proven methods work when applied consistently. Be gentle with both yourself and your toddler as you navigate this phase together. Focus on celebrating small wins.
What strategies have worked best for your family? Share your experiences and favorite redirection techniques in the comments below. Your insights may help another parent who is struggling with the same challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Normal For Toddlers to Throw Things at Certain Times of Day?
Yes, many toddlers tend to throw toys more frequently during transitions, when they’re tired, or when they’re hungry. Pay attention to patterns in your child’s throwing behavior.
Can Sensory Issues Contribute to Throwing Behavior?
Children who are sensory seekers might throw toys because they crave input from movement and sound. If you suspect sensory issues, consider consulting with an occupational therapist.
How Long Does The Throwing Phase Typically Last?
Most toddlers go through an intense throwing phase between 12 and 24 months, which gradually decreases as their language skills improve.
