What to Do When Your Child Hits or Throws Things
SReviewed by Sara · Montessori teacher
My child is throwing things or hitting — what should I do?
When your child hits or throws something, calmly stop the action — for example by gently holding their hand — and name the feeling: "You're angry." Keep it brief in the moment, and immediately offer an alternative: stomping their feet, hitting a pillow, or throwing something that is okay to throw, like a ball.
Once your child has calmed down, have a short conversation about what happened using simple words, and let them help clean up or make things right — not as a punishment, but as a way of taking responsibility.
It also helps to work preventively: give your child a daily outlet for big energy and movement (throwing a ball, carrying something heavy) and keep routines predictable, since tiredness and hunger are often behind outbursts. Most importantly, hold the same boundary every single time — calmly and consistently.