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How do you deal with 14 month throwing food on floor? I say no, praise a lot for them eating food, after they've thrown food several times on floor I remove their food. I feel this is getting worse. It's only with one DCB. He does this at home too. I'm going to talk to Mom but just wondering if anyone could share their strategies.
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Ugh! I have a 20 month old who does the same thing and it drives me nuts! He will just throw it on the floor and laugh and when I say something he just smiles at me. I do the same as you and no, it doesn't help. I hope someone has some advice on how to deter them from doing it! -
My own little one does the same thing!! I keep telling the dck not to laugh at her but they think it is hilarious, so she keeps doing it, of course. I usually just run over there quick and grab all of her food. She only does it when she is done eating.Comment
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I give them VERY little food at one time.
If they throw, I say "NO!!"
If they do it again, they get down.
Rinse and repeat.
It really doesn't take them long to figure out they'd rather eat then throw
Just be firm and consistent.
I know everyone is worried that the child may not get much to eat then, but I really truly believe that when a child begins to throw food, they know FULL well what they are doing. (watch the ones younger...they rarely throw food because they are hungry and want to eat).
Once they start throwing food, it becomes a game to them because no matter what mom (or caregiver) wants them to eat so they don't starve so the child usually gets to throw AND gets some more food which IMHO, reinforces the throwing and so on and so on, but I truly believe they need to have some natural consequences (loss of food/hunger) in order to "get it" and use good manners.
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I have tried to do what you have said.....but....then I feel bad and let him eat again. I think I will just have to stick to it and hopefully he will learn and like you said, they need to have some natural consequences.I give them VERY little food at one time.
If they throw, I say "NO!!"
If they do it again, they get down.
Rinse and repeat.
It really doesn't take them long to figure out they'd rather eat then throw
Just be firm and consistent.
I know everyone is worried that the child may not get much to eat then, but I really truly believe that when a child begins to throw food, they know FULL well what they are doing. (watch the ones younger...they rarely throw food because they are hungry and want to eat).
Once they start throwing food, it becomes a game to them because no matter what mom (or caregiver) wants them to eat so they don't starve so the child usually gets to throw AND gets some more food which IMHO, reinforces the throwing and so on and so on, but I truly believe they need to have some natural consequences (loss of food/hunger) in order to "get it" and use good manners.
It's just really hard for me!Comment
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See? that's why it is still happening.
Your thrower knows you feel bad and knows that ultimately they will still get to eat so basically they have already won the game BEFORE it even started.
It's ok to feel bad though. I would even make a big show of it for the child "Oh Billy, I feel so bad that you aren't going to get to eat now. Maybe next snack/meal you will eat your food and not throw it"
and then as always, rinse and repeat for the next snack/meal
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I do the same. I give them only a few bites at a time. If they accidently drop, no big deal. My own daughter is a messy eater, but she is eating, not playing. If they are dropping on purpose or throwing, they are done and leave the area. I don't worry about them being hungry for two reasons: if they were really hungry they would have been eating instead of playing and I know that we will be having snack within a few hours anyway.Comment
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I know, I know.See? that's why it is still happening.
Your thrower knows you feel bad and knows that ultimately they will still get to eat so basically they have already won the game BEFORE it even started.
It's ok to feel bad though. I would even make a big show of it for the child "Oh Billy, I feel so bad that you aren't going to get to eat now. Maybe next snack/meal you will eat your food and not throw it"
and then as always, rinse and repeat for the next snack/meal I'm just going to have to get over feeling bad and be firm! Starting in about 10-20 minutes we will see how it works...
I have a feeling there will be a lot of screaming!
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Only a little bit of food at a time and I say "no thank you" once. If it happens a second time I say all done and remove the tray. I'm careful to not give the behavior much attention, I don't show much reaction and don't show any signs of being upset.Comment
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Agree, agree, agree!I give them VERY little food at one time.
If they throw, I say "NO!!"
If they do it again, they get down.
Rinse and repeat.
It really doesn't take them long to figure out they'd rather eat then throw
Just be firm and consistent.
I know everyone is worried that the child may not get much to eat then, but I really truly believe that when a child begins to throw food, they know FULL well what they are doing. (watch the ones younger...they rarely throw food because they are hungry and want to eat).
Once they start throwing food, it becomes a game to them because no matter what mom (or caregiver) wants them to eat so they don't starve so the child usually gets to throw AND gets some more food which IMHO, reinforces the throwing and so on and so on, but I truly believe they need to have some natural consequences (loss of food/hunger) in order to "get it" and use good manners.Comment
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It's perfectly normal for a child to throw food on the floor at that age. They're still experimenting with cause and effect and love to play with their food. I simply ignore it and clean up after the child is out of the high chair. You could try putting an old sheet under the high chair to make clean up easy. As far as saying no? You're just reinforcing that food throwing gets attention, IMO.
I ignore it totally. If ALL of the food is ending up on the floor (NONE in the mouth), only then would I remove food. It's just a phase that most kids go through, and it will pass.Comment
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If it is just a little then ita. I'm thinking more along the lines of a few times when one of my older ones (15+ months) has thrown large handfuls or their cup with my previous reply. A little food always ends up on the floor and I just accept it. Sometimes they drop a small handful of 5 or so cheerios and when nothing happens they just go back to eating because it's more fun.Comment
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Is there a dog at home? My son does this but he likes to feed his doggies....a little food overboard I wouldn't even give it any attention...but if the child is full on throwing it and laughing I would do as the above posted said with limiting the amount given and once the playing starts remove the food.
HOWEVER.....if your on the food program and are required to serve specific portions of the food groups can you limit what is on his plate??:confused:Comment
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