Punishment for a two yr old?

Question

my son is a very picky eater. he turned two on 5/25/2008. the thing is, when he is done eatin whatever it is that we can get him to eat, without any warning he throws his bowl in the floor! food everywhere. we have even tried the bowls that sucktion to the high chair tray, but he can get them off. how can we give him some sort of punishment for this behaviour that he will understand? what can we do to make him stop throwing his food all over the place??

Answer 1

Time out, maybe a smack on the hands

Good luck

Answer 2

This is normal for this age.  When they're done eating, they will begin to play with their leftover food and their dishes.  It's frustrating and annoying, I know.  In the meantime, watch him for signs that he's starting to slow down at the meal--meaning, that he's almost ready to stop eating.  Then take his stuff away before he gets the chance to throw it away.  Your best defense is to be prevention.  If he does get the chance to fling something off the high chair, then a firm "No! Do not throw your food/dish/spoon."  Clean him up and get him out of the high chair when you can.  Be prepared ahead of time with alternative things to do in the high chair if he has to remain there until others are done eating or if you're in a restaurant; crayons and paper, or some other activity.  Be clear in your verbal correction, but keep words minimal in number and easy to understand.  Alot of parents get into the habit of "lecturing" a bit even with 2 year olds, and they just tune out anything extra.  Be sure to always encourage him to say "I'm done" or something to that effect so that he can learn the right way to get the message across and praise him when he does this.  All three of my kids did this and every other toddler out there I've known.  My 3rd is 2 1/2 and is now able to say "I'm done."  I respect her ability to convey the message constructively and get her cleaned up as soon as possible and off to other activities.  If she hasn't eaten enough I insist on a small amount more as a compromise---"Eat those two bites first. Then you can get down."  This always works as long as I set aside the two bites I want her to eat (or whatever it is) and don't keep changing the requirements on her.  And if I do my part and am consistent with the response to her finishing a meal, then we really do minimize those kind of events--spagettios flung across the far reaches of the kitchen.  He'll outgrow it.

As for punishment, not all undesirable behaviors require punishing.  Sometimes--as in this case--they require some problem solving to figure out exactly what the cause is and to get creative about solving it.  This also teaches your child as he gets older to figure out specific problems and find solutions to them, rather than to just "act out" with behavior no one wants to see.

Answer 3

Well I can tell you as a Mom of a 2 yr old, 4 yr old and a 6 yr old, that it does pass. I don't think smacking his hand is going to help any. If your 2 yr old is anything like mine, trying to get him to help clean it up isn't going to get you far. Just don't laugh and don't over react. If you do either of those, he may enjoy the "reaction" you have.

You could try being close enough that you could "catch" him in the act (literally try to catch the bowl).

Or you could try giving him less food?

Time and LOTs of patience. Easier said than done, I know but I have been there and I am there right now!!!

It's even harder to keep his food on his highchair tray because we have a Doberman Puppy and she is the perfect height for his tray. She will never take anything -unless he feeds her. There is the problem. He thinks it's FUNNY to feed the dog.

Ugh.

Answer 4

ignor it let him throw it ...... if he wants to act like a child let him..he will grow out of it .. i have ......you just carry on eating your dinner dont be running to pick the bowl up either dinner is important ,,,just say please dont do that...mummy has to clean it up.....does he throw away his dessert aswell?? bet not ...

no pudding then for him ..just you and who ever eats without chucking food ,,,if you dont want to be to mean you could give him his favorite dessert after you have cleaned up his mess take your time 3 mins should do it..no point making him clean up it is just  to much fun for a child ....water and messy dinner stuff ,,,

Answer 5

Tell him that throwing his bowl plate ect.. on the floor is a "bad thing to do". Have him get down there and help you clean up the mess and put him in time out for two minutes and tell him "you are in time out because you threw your bowl on the floor". Good Luck

Answer 6

My daughter went through that phase at that age too.   You just have to keep telling him NO over and over and like the other poster said and showing him that you have to clean up. For now, I would sit next to him when eats and try to remove plate before he finishes each meal and say "all done"  and moat importantly, praise him before he gets to that the point of throwing it.  Have some sort of routine. Make sure his high chair is next to the table and when you remove the bowl or palte on the table and say "all done" then wipe his face and hands and praise him with  "Good job, all clean"  Eventually he'll get the hang of it and change the negative behavior from your positive reinforcement of the good behavior.  You can reward him with a  cheerio or cracker he likes.    Even though I am a believer in time outs (2 minutes for age 2.) I don't think it will necessarily work in this situation.  I don't think smacking him will teach him anything except to smack his food and bowls even more.  Be persistent and patient.  he's just learning and testing boundaries.

Answer 7

Tell him no as you look him in the eye, and spank his little hand.

Answer 8

timeout

Answer 9

my sister is 2 and she does that sometimes. u haveshow him is boss and punish him. put him in time out very time he throws food and tell him that what he did was wrong. he may cry but if u do not do this and follow thru then he wll think he is boss

Answer 10

you have to look him directly in the eye, so he knows that you are serious, and tell him no with a firm voice!!

Answer 11

Don't punish him.

Don't smack him.

Just have him help you clean it up.  This will help him to learn that actions have consequences.  You can even tell him as he eats, "If you throw your bowl on the floor, you have to help clean it up."

Answer 12

I agree with Angela B 100% - she took the words right out of my mouth.  My 2 year old did the same thing and that is exactly what I do - a firm NO, a smack on the hand, and then he has to help clean up.  He rarely throws his food on the floor anymore.  He learned within a week that it was not a wise decision.

Answer 13

put him in time out for 2 minutes....if he trys to get up keep puting him back untill 2 minutes are up...trhen tell him what he did wrong  and if he does it again he will go back..good luck

Answer 14

Let him know you are serious and be consistent.  I would smack his hand firmly, tell him no firmly, make him clean up the mess, and put him in a time out.  It won't take him long to figure out that mommy is serious and that he needs to stop throwing things on the floor.

As for picky part, my daughter was like that.  I made a choice early on to make one dinner and that is all.  Period.  If the kids don't eat what I fix, they go hungry.  If they throw a fit, they go to bed with no dinner.  My daughter is 7 now and perfectly healthy and we have no problems with her eating or whining about food.