I am team take away the toy immediately AND explain. "We don't throw toys. Since you threw the toys, I am going to take it away". It has been really effective with both my kids. Initially you can probably expect a tantrum or two.

jsmith123 wrote:+1 for toy taken away immediately.

Also, if he's in that mode, get out toys he *can* throw and give them to him.

Good idea. Get him a pieceof silk (Sarah's silks)

Get a cheap cat kennel and throw them in toy jail!

No second chances.

He can have a fresh start with the thrown toys the next day.

Get him throwing toys for outdoors so he does have a "yes" time and place to throw.

+1 for toy taken away immediately.

Also, if he's in that mode, get out toys he *can* throw and give them to him.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't give a second chance. If you throw something, it gets taken away immediately.

100%. He throws it, it gets taken away.

How long does it get taken away for?

Anonymous wrote:I don't give a second chance. If you throw something, it gets taken away immediately.

100%. He throws it, it gets taken away.

I don't give a second chance. If you throw something, it gets taken away immediately.

Anonymous wrote:take it away on the first throw. He is 2. If you take it away sometimes (2nd throw) and not others (first throw) that is too complicated for him. He throws, it goes in timeout.

And I would stop with the "we only throw balls" because a) you don't want him throwing balls at the baby either and b) that categorizing is hard for a 2 year old too. I'd switch to "we only throw when we're outside in the open."

I would take most of the toys out of where he plays and only leave softer things or things that are too heavy for him to throw. Add things back slowly.

Agreed on taking toys on the first throw. Taking it on the second throw just means he gets a free throw per toy.

Agree with others. I tell mine that we don’t throw toys and watch to see what she does. If she picks up another and it looks like she’s going to throw immediately, I start putting the toys away and tell her we’re all done since she didn’t stop throwing when asked. If she stops after the first ask not to throw then I praise her for listening like a big kid. You may have to take the toy on first warning if this is a repetitive thing. I would also have him sit in a timeout for two minutes. On the bottom step or in the hallway without toys around him. That has worked well in our case when needed for discipline.

take it away on the first throw. He is 2. If you take it away sometimes (2nd throw) and not others (first throw) that is too complicated for him. He throws, it goes in timeout.

And I would stop with the "we only throw balls" because a) you don't want him throwing balls at the baby either and b) that categorizing is hard for a 2 year old too. I'd switch to "we only throw when we're outside in the open."

I would take most of the toys out of where he plays and only leave softer things or things that are too heavy for him to throw. Add things back slowly.

Anonymous wrote:You can’t “explain” and rationalize with a 2.5 year old. Use a short “when/ then” phrase and keep it simple and repeat as necessary. Stay calm.

In your calm voice: “When we throw trucks, then they go away”.
Then pick up the truck and disappear it. Don’t wait for a tantrum, redirect immediately. “Ohhh, it’s the train! Chooo choo” and model how to move the train on the floor.
When the child plays nicely, comment on it.
“I like how you keep your train on the tracks”.

Not OP but my DD is 4 and throwing everything at us. I wrote down When Then so hopefully I'll remember to do it tonight. 1 2 3 magic doesn't really work for us. Thanks!

You can’t “explain” and rationalize with a 2.5 year old. Use a short “when/ then” phrase and keep it simple and repeat as necessary. Stay calm.

In your calm voice: “When we throw trucks, then they go away”.
Then pick up the truck and disappear it. Don’t wait for a tantrum, redirect immediately. “Ohhh, it’s the train! Chooo choo” and model how to move the train on the floor.
When the child plays nicely, comment on it.
“I like how you keep your train on the tracks”.

Anonymous wrote:Read 1,2,3 Magic.

+1. Your son is too young to understand your explanations. Try seeing if 1,2,3 Magic will work.

Read 1,2,3 Magic.

DS is 2.5. We’ve always told him that we only throw balls. We’ve always taken the toy away on the second throw. But he’s still throwing. We have an infant crawling around and he could hurt him and he’s already hurt me ( not thrown at me but I got caught in the cross-fire).

I don’t know what else to do. I’ve explained repeatedly that he could hurt someone and reminded him of how his one favorite truck was broken by throwing it. He does it when he’s acting out and sometimes just for fun.

I hate getting angry at him but yesterday I got hit in the shin with a digger and it hurt like hell!

He gets lots of outdoor exercise.