Soft Toys

[mamamanda]

I read on a previous post where someone recommended only allowing a child to play with soft toys when they were in a throwing phase. I'm wondering for those of you who have tried that, how do you keep the child from playing with the other toys? Are they gated off some way? I have a pretty defiant one and parents and I are working hard on her behavior, but today she purposely threw a hard plastic ball (meant to be rolled down a ramp) at an infant. She barely missed his head. The ball is age appropriate and it wouldn't have seriously hurt him, but it would have stung had it hit him. I've thought several times lately she really needs to be limited to soft toys, but how do you limit one without limiting all? If she's free to move around the room there is no way she will stay with the soft toys I give her. She has zero interest in them. Just wondering how you do this? Thanks.

[Baby Beluga]

Could you use a rug? Place her on a rug with soft toys and let her know this is her area to play on.

[Blackcat31]

I read on a previous post where someone recommended only allowing a child to play with soft toys when they were in a throwing phase. I'm wondering for those of you who have tried that, how do you keep the child from playing with the other toys? Are they gated off some way? I have a pretty defiant one and parents and I are working hard on her behavior, but today she purposely threw a hard plastic ball (meant to be rolled down a ramp) at an infant. She barely missed his head. The ball is age appropriate and it wouldn't have seriously hurt him, but it would have stung had it hit him. I've thought several times lately she really needs to be limited to soft toys, but how do you limit one without limiting all? If she's free to move around the room there is no way she will stay with the soft toys I give her. She has zero interest in them. Just wondering how you do this? Thanks.

I would restrict her free reign or free access to the room.

She has shown you she does not have the ability to have that privilege yet.

Restrict her from access toys she can throw or hurt others with by using a baby gate or one of those octagon play yards, a room divider or maybe a book shelf or other piece of furniture. Similar to how you would limit a baby or toddlers access to toys they shouldnt play with.

[Laurel]

I read on a previous post where someone recommended only allowing a child to play with soft toys when they were in a throwing phase. I'm wondering for those of you who have tried that, how do you keep the child from playing with the other toys? Are they gated off some way? I have a pretty defiant one and parents and I are working hard on her behavior, but today she purposely threw a hard plastic ball (meant to be rolled down a ramp) at an infant. She barely missed his head. The ball is age appropriate and it wouldn't have seriously hurt him, but it would have stung had it hit him. I've thought several times lately she really needs to be limited to soft toys, but how do you limit one without limiting all? If she's free to move around the room there is no way she will stay with the soft toys I give her. She has zero interest in them. Just wondering how you do this? Thanks.

I didn't limit a thrower to all soft toys. At all times though I kept out those soft fabric blocks. I went through a couple of sets over the years. When they would throw something I would say "We only throw soft blocks." Then I'd pick up one and throw it and hand it to them to throw. It was always acceptable to throw the soft blocks and ONLY the soft blocks. Then if they had thrown a car, for example, I'd take the car and sit them down on the floor by me and say "Cars are for rolling, like this." Then have them roll the car. If they are stopped and shown how to do it (even if they already know how) and are interrupted and made to 'do it right' it helps over time. You have to keep on it though. Plus once it is the rule whenever anyone throws something all the other kids will chime in "We only throw soft blocks." Peer pressure.

Until they stop, you can also just put more soft toys for everyone. Some fun things that mine liked were gloves to put on their hands (they also put them on their feet for chicken feet :, stuffed animals with an elastic or yarn 'leash' to drag around the floor, cheap sofa pillows to stack or sit on or walk on like stepping stones, scarves for dress up games, receiving blankets to wrap dolls in or put over their heads to play ghost, dress up clothes, kiddie purses (I had some soft ones), beach balls (I did allow them to kick those around inside too), pom poms to find like an Easter egg hunt, etc.