Throwing Food - Franklin,MI

my one year old thinks it's sooo much fun to throw her sippy cup. We had to buy a strap or leash as I call it for her sippy cup. She also throws or "shares" her food with our dog to the point of us having to lock the dog outside of the kitchen. I think it's just a phase and the kids testing their boundries and having fun with how things can fall. I don't think they relize that what goes down doesn't always have a way of coming back up on it's own. I am sorry I have no advise for you but hope to gain some from other moms myself. I just want you to know that someone else is going through this too. I swear my one year old must be going through the terriable two's early!

You have to show her that she will only get the food if she does not throw it, and she WILL eat what you make...she will NOT be given something else. Don't give a 2-year-old too much of a choice...you can say PB&J or Ham & Cheese for example, but don't give more than 2 choices at most.

Only give about half the food first. If she throws it, then put the rest of the food on the table just out of her reach and tell her she cannot have it if she is going to throw it. Make her wait till she is reaching for it and crying and screaming for it for about 2 minutes so you know she really, really wants it...yes, this sounds cruel, but you need to make her want it really bad. Then give her a piece on her tray. If she eats it, she gets another piece. If she throws it, make her wait for another piece and enforce the "NO throwing food", "You throw food, you don't eat", "Eat your food, don't throw it". And only give her pieces at a time till she begins to understand it. Eventually, she will not cry (don't wait more than 2 minutes before giving her the next piece of food) and she will not throw food and you can give her two pieces at a time, then three, then four, and so on. Before you know it, you can put the whole plate on her tray and she will not thow anything. Good Luck!

Congradulations on the new addition to your family. Try letting her throwing a ball, papper into the trash, let her know some things are ok to throw, but not food. Say only one or two words in responce to the behavior, such as no no, and praise good behaivor the same good girl, their vocabulary is small, just trying to figure out what foods a child will eat is a battle in it's self. Try no plate, you have the plate of food and only give two or three pieces at a time, on the tray, and count as you do, 1 piece, 2 pieces, ectra, sing songs, A, B, C's, something to distract from the fact she is eating, lots of praise, for a good deed. Children this age don't want to be bothered to stop playing to eat, make it a game, you'll soon win this battle, and on to the next. Best of luck to you. B. Mom of 4 daughters, 3 grandchildren.

L., I am an instructor of a wonderful parenting style called Connection Parenting. I would like to share how this could be handled using the Connection Parenting style and methods. It may seem different, because it is, but it is an amazing, life-changing way to raise our kids.
Because you know she does this, you have huge benefits on your side in expecting it to happen. I would suggest staying close to her in preparation, and when you see her begin to move towards throwing it, take a gentle but solid hold of her hand and take responsibility for her, by setting a limit with words such as "I can't let you throw your food, or plate." Release her hand and stay close to see if she goes for it again. Still staying calm here, in loving tones, take her hand again if she repeats and repeat the same thing. Then you might even take her in your arms, and empathize with her feelings. "Boy, something on that plate must sure look icky to you, because I know you are a hungry girl." (now, depending on her speech skills - at 2 may be iffy)... she may respond to that statement. If she isn't there yet, you can give her a moment to process your words, and then offer her a solution, "let's see if we can find a way to make it look yummier"
With these responses, she will feel heard, her need for love and connection will have been met with the touching and holding, she won't feel guilty or "bad" for having thrown the plate, you won't have a mess to clean up, and after a few times of being responded to this way she will take up the solution based mindset, she will trust that you love her no matter how bad she is feeling and have her best interests in mind. She will be able to keep her autonomy, not feeling as though she has to submit or rebel to not eat something that she doesn't like.

Let me know how that works, or if something unexpected happens. Just FYI.. if she happens to break into tears when you pick her up, it is normal. She may just have some upsets from her day that she needs to get off her chest. Let her cry and get them out. And come back here to let me know or ask more.

I teach classes around Metro-Detroit... the next one is in Clarkston in January. If that fits your need, and you like how the method works out for you, let me know and I can send you more details or keep you informed of future classes in your area.