My son is almost 18 months old. At every meal I attempt to give him his sippy cup on his highchair tray, and every time he throws it. I cannot give him a cup while he is playing, or any time, for that matter. He thinks his cup is a toy, and he throws everything he gets his hands on. So every drink that he gets all throughout the day, I am holding the cup. He is about to start going to a daycare for the first time, and I know that this will be a huge problem. How can I teach him to drink from his cup without throwing it?
1. It is normal at that age to throw things on the floor. 2) He is testing cause/effect 3). He doesn't want it at the time you are offering him. 4) He will take it when he is ready. He knows what it is used for at that age, don't force it. Also, when he gets to daycare and see others doing it, he will adapt.
Oh, it's so fun when they learn new skills! And such a fun game to play to see Mommy fetch the cup and bring it back and do it all over again!
My cousin and her husband called it "Whippin' Stuff!" when their son was that age. They just kept repeating over and over that we don't throw this, cups are not for throwing, etc. They would take away whatever he was throwing. They would say balls are for throwing and only outside. They would give him plenty of time outside throwing balls around so he could get it out of his system.
My guess is that the folks at daycare have seen this with tons of other kids and will be able to deal with it just fine. Talk about it with them since you are concerned and see what they say. Plus, sometimes kids (even at 18 months) won't pull stuff like this with other adults and are more apt to listen to them than their own parents.
I think this is pretty typical for his age and he probably gets a big kick out of throwing it down, having you pick it up and give it to him, and him throwing it back down again. This probably won't be a big issue for your new daycare provider -- she'll most likely expect it to happend -- but you can always do one of two things that I can think of right now:
#1 When he throws his cup to the floor, look at him and animatedly say, "Uh-oh, looks like you are done with your drink. All gone." And then pick up the cup and take it away. This will stop making it fun for him to throw his cup on the floor right away.
#2 Sit with him while he is eating and, whenever you notice him get ready throw his cup, put your hand on the cup and gently push it back down next to his plate and tell him, "We don't throw cups."
If you are consistent with any one of these approaches, he will get the message and the game will cease being any fun.
Hope this helps.
I got mine to stop by taking it away and drinking from it right in front of her. She had this shocked look on her face, with a hint of confusion. She quickly learned the first time she would throw it mommy would drink it. It took a few days though. =) Good Luck.
Normal behavior.. Instead of handing it to him right now, just hold it while he drinks.. If the cup has handles, you could also tie it to his high chair so at least when it is thrown it will still be attached to his chair..
@Kristen.. I love "Whippin Stuff" .. I am totally going to borrow that..
Just take the cup away immediately when he throws it. If he still wants it, say "No because you threw it." If he asks for it later, try again. And repeat. I am guesing he threws after he drinks. So you may have to hold it for him, soon he will resist and want to do it himself and you can reqrd good behaviro by letting him. But if he throws, no more cup.
Can you try giving him a regular cup with no lid to him? I'd put a very little bit of water in it at first for him to try and that way if he does throw it, it is just water.
It is a normal phase that all toddlers go through. When my girls did that, I'd just take the cup, put it in the sink, and they wouldn't get it back again until the next meal or snack time.
At this age, he thinks throwing his cup is a game.
I think that next time he throws it, you should just pick it up and say, "all gone" and put the cup in the kitchen sink.
He won't die of dehydration of you do this a few times.
If he asks for a drink then throws his cup, repeat the process.
He might get mad because he's used to you picking it up and giving it back to him or you holding the cup for him.
I would try giving him a cup without a lid while he's not in his high chair. Put some water in a cup and give it to him at the kitchen sink. If he spills, it's okay, just water. If he throws it, put the cup in the sink and say "all gone".
He's just a little guy, but he really will figure out that throwing his cup means that he's done with it. He might not have thought he was done because he wanted to play, but he will get it figured out.
Best wishes!
