Addressing a common toddler mealtime behavior
Core Idea: Food throwing is typically either experimentation or communication that the meal is finished; responding calmly with clear limits helps the behavior pass more quickly.
Key Elements
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Understanding the behavior
- Experimentation (seeing what happens when food falls)
- Communication (signaling "all done" before having language)
- Testing boundaries (observing adult reactions)
- Developmental phase rather than defiance
- Sometimes indicates overstimulation or overwhelm
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Implementation steps
- Observe to determine the function of throwing
- Ask clearly: "Are you telling me you're all finished?"
- Teach alternative communication: demonstrate "all done" sign
- Show process for meal completion: "Let's take our plates to the kitchen"
- If throwing continues despite not being done, calmly remove plate
- Apply same approach to intentional liquid spilling
- Use neutral tone when enforcing boundaries
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Key language examples
- "You can say 'all finished' like this" (demonstrate sign)
- "I'm going to put the glass over here. Let me know when you would like to use it for drinking."
- "I see you're experimenting with gravity. Food stays on the table or plate."
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Common pitfalls
- Overreacting emotionally (reinforcing the behavior)
- Inconsistent responses creating confusion
- Attributing deliberate misbehavior rather than development
- Allowing food throwing to continue without limits
- Making mealtimes a power struggle
Additional Connections
- Broader Context: Montessori Approach to Toddler Mealtimes (foundational approach)
- Applications: Managing Food Battles (part of broader mealtime challenges)
- See Also: Setting Boundaries Around Leaving (similar boundary-setting principles)
References
- Davies, S. (2019). The Montessori Toddler.
- Montessori, M. (1995). The Absorbent Mind, Holt Paperbacks.
#mealtimes #boundaries #development #montessori
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