What to Do When Your Child Throws Things When Upset

Throwing can happen for many reasons. A child may be overwhelmed, frustrated, trying to communicate, reacting to a transition, seeking a sensory experience, or simply not yet have another response that works as well for them. In the moment, safety comes first. Move hard, sharp, or breakable objects away when possible and use a calm, brief response rather than a long explanation. Once everyone is safe, think about what happened immediately before the throwing. Was something stopped? Was the environment overwhelming? Was the child tired, hungry, frustrated, or unable to communicate what they needed? Then teach an alternative that fits the situation. Depending on the reason, that might be asking for “break,” “help,” “all done,” using AAC or a visual card, or—when the need is actually to throw—having an appropriate object and safe place for throwing. Practice the replacement when your child is calm, not only during difficult moments. The goal should be isn’t simply to stop throwing. It’s to understand what the behavior is accomplishing and help your child develop a safer way to meet that need.