If your toddler has turned mealtime into a game of 'toss the spoon,' you aren't alone. This behavior is incredibly common around the 1-year mark and beyond. While it’s messy and frustrating, it is usually a developmental milestone—your toddler is learning about cause and effect, gravity, and, quite simply, testing boundaries.

Why They Do It Often, this isn't about the food itself. It’s an experiment. They want to see what happens when the bowl hits the floor, or they are trying to communicate that they are finished, bored, or over-stimulated.

What You Can Do

1. Stay Calm: If you react with frustration, the 'game' becomes even more exciting. Try to keep your response neutral and consistent.
2. The 'All Done' Signal: Teach them the sign for 'all done' or the phrase 'bye-bye food.' When they start throwing, offer them the chance to stop. If the throwing continues, calmly take the plate away and say, 'I see you are done eating.'
3. Minimize the Mess: If the floor-cleaning is driving you to distraction, try using a splat mat or feeding them in a space that’s easier to wipe down.
4. Give Them Control: Sometimes toddlers throw food because they want to participate. Offer them a 'safe' piece of food they are allowed to explore or even drop, while you handle the main feeding.
5. Model the Behavior: Eat with them. When you are finished, show them how you put your plate away.

This phase, like many others, will pass. By remaining consistent and removing the 'audience' aspect of the throwing, you’ll help them understand that mealtime is for eating, not for projectiles.