It’s common for young children to throw their food on the floor. Although this behavior can be frustrating and messy, it needs to be handled carefully. Here are some steps you can take to keep your child from throwing their food so that they don’t engage in this behavior at school or their day care center.

A Guide to Keeping Your Child From Throwing Food

Why Young Children Throw Food

Throwing food is a normal behavior for children who are 8-18 months old. One of the most common reasons that toddlers do this is that they want attention. This could be from their parents or workers at their day care center. Even if they get in trouble, they’re still getting noticed. 

Toddlers may throw food because they don’t like what’s being served and don’t know a better way to convey their discontent. They don’t want it on their tray, so they simply throw it off. This is even more likely to happen if you try to force them to eat.

The child may throw the food as a defense mechanism so that they don’t have to eat it. Luckily, there are many methods you can try to get your child to stop throwing their meals around.

How to Curb the Behavior

One of the best ways to prevent throwing is to give your toddler less food to throw. Only put one to three pieces of food on their tray at a time. Not only will this prevent food waste and messes, but it will also allow you to monitor them more closely.

If you notice that your child is throwing the same food over and over, it might be because they don’t like it. Find a place that your kid can put food they don’t like while it still remains on their tray.

For example, put two bowls in front of them or teach them to use a cup holder on their high chair. If you’re using this method, tell their day care center so that you’re all on the same page.

Lastly, if your child really won’t stop throwing food, they might not be hungry. Once you’ve given a few warnings, stop the meal. Tell them why and be firm. After doing this a few times, your child will likely stop the behavior.

If you’re looking for a day care center that can handle your child’s behavior and work with you to correct it, choose Mendon Child Care Center in Mendon and Honeoye Falls, NY. They offer stimulating care from infancy through grade school. Their staff is made up of experts in early childhood education, and their programs emphasize the needs, milestones, and desires at every point of a child’s development. Visit their website to learn about their programs, or call (585) 624-2337 to ask about enrolling your child.