Interrupt and Redirect: For Toddler Throwing

Toddlers are just discovering cause and effect and nothing is more fun than seeing mom or dad react! When a behavior like throwing items at a person occurs, most likely the response will be quick and automatic. This immediate reaction results in the child getting attention from a parent. Though the attention may appear punitive to an adult (e.g. yellow “no!” or “stop!”, stern facial expression), is it still attention in the form of a response to the child’s behavior.

The behavior continues and may increase as attention continues to be delivered. The trick is to provide attention but shape your child’s behavior so they will receive it for appropriate behavior. You want to interrupt and redirect the throwing to another behavior. Do this while ignoring the htrowing behavior … at least as much as possible!

For example, instead of yelling “no!” or picking up the thrown item, ignore it and move towards a fun toy and start engagin in play to pique your child’s interest. Or in some cases, just walk away and keep an eye on your toddler from afar. When throwing ceases or is NOT occuring, go to your child and show what they can do with toys instead of throwing.

Consider having a basket available where your child can place toys when they are finished with them. After your child throws and you have waited to provide attention, go back to them and say “Oh, it looks like you are done with this toy, let’s put it in the basket” and show them the appropriate place the toy can go. Then you can play or do another activity.

If your child loves to throw, spend time with them playing games such as throwing balls into clothes baskets, throwing and batting a balloon to you, throwing plastic balls at plastic bowling pins. Each time your child throws, be exuberant! “You are throwing with the ball, look how well you do!” You want to build up the attention for appropriate behaviors.

If or when an inappropriate behavior occurs, ignore the throwing (i.e. do not say “no” or “stop”) and instead redirect to the basket or another activity: “Oh, you want to throw? Go get your balls to throw.” or “If you are done, please put the toy in the basket.”

By using these statements, you are interrupting the behavior and redirecting it to an appropriate way of playing and gaining your attention. In addition, you have framed your questions to include choices that your child must make. Choices provide an appropriate form of control over their environment.

When throwing occurs, it is important not to respond reactively. Doing so will provide attention that may increase and maintain your child’s behavior. If you feel strongly that a statement regarding the throwing must occur, then provide it in a neutral manner and continue with the example questions above.

For example, “No throwing blocks please (remove the blocks). What should we throw instead? The bouncy ball or the wiffle balls? Are they in the play room or your bedroom?”. Or “It seems like you are finished with this toy. Let’s put it in the basket.”

Continue to increase your attention whenever your child is playing appropriately. Keep a simple record to see if a change occurs within 10 days of being consistent with your reactions.

Interrupting and redirecting is a strategy used to shape appropriate behaviors and decrease inappropriate behavior. Structured choice opportunities is a strategy that has been shown to increase appropriate behaviors and to decrease inappropriate behaviors.

• Child's Age: 3-5, 6-10
• Planning Effort: Low
• Difficulty Level: Easy

Ability for adult to stay calm and neutral

1. Spend time with your child playing appropriate ‘throwing’ games like tossing balls into baskets, pots, or targets like plastic bowling pins. Provide high levels of attention and reinforcement during these times. Be exuberant and specific with your reinforcement: “You are throwing with balls! Look how well you do!”
2. Identify a basket or place where items that are thrown can go.
3. If inappropriate throwing occurs: keep your tone of voice calm and ignore or interrupt/redirect to a throwing game or for the child to put the thrown toys into a specific place.
4. Redirect with a question that includes choices for the child to make: “Oh you want to play throw? Should we use the wiffle balls or the bouncy balls? Are they in your room or the playroom? Should we walk, hop, or race to the room?” or redirect to the basket or place where the thrown toys go “It seems like you are done with that toy. Let’s put it in the basket. What should we play now?”
5. Respond positively to each response with lots of attention to every appropriate behavior.
6. Continue to increase your attention whenever your child is playing appropriately.
7. Keep a simple record to see if a change occurs within 10 days of being consistent with your reactions.