Sharing Nintendo Switch

[Whattodo13333]

Is it unreasonable to ask 7 year old to spend 15 mins on mario cart with his 4 year old brother at some point today? Stroppy and unwilling to share at all, I've told him he can't go on today unless he is willing to share?? AIBU?

(Was also unwilling to show a friend how to play recently, no problems with sharing otherwise and he's generally a good boy).

And that includes our old Wii which was bought for DS1 when DS2 was 8 months old. He learned to share.

You've probably realised this, but your mistake was giving the switch to the 7yo entirely rather than having it as a 'house' present or shared with sibling.

We have always done this, and it ensures sharing, and also we as parents can time limit more easily than if it were theirs.

I don't think YABU to ask your DS7 to give his brother a short go. Especially if the 4yo understands it's a one off.

YANBU. My dds are 9 and 4 and they play it together. If the younger one doesn’t know how to play then the older one can show them. Doesn’t really matter if the younger one comes last, the older one can still race against the cpu characters and it’s only 15 mins you’re asking for. My four-year-old would kick off big time if she wasn’t allowed a go!

Especially if the 4yo understands it's a one off.

Would it be a one off though? Surely if the eldest lets him have a turn the youngest will ask for more in the future.

Or if the eldest lets him have a turn but then says no in the future, the OP will say but you let him have a go last time.

Much easier for the 7 year old to just say no, and for them to share other toys like the Lego.

My 3 year old and 7 year old play Mario kart with me as a helper. With the autosteer on he will get round the track and it's great for the oldest one's ego as a slower player slows the whole field down so it's easier to win.

I think that as it is his present, sharing should be encouraged but not enforced. It is his. I bet you don't want to share everything. I also used to hate having to play with my little brother he didn't fully understand, and one go led to him always wanting to play.

To avoid this in the future if you think your other child would also like to play make it a joint present or house present instead of giving it to just one child

If you wanted them to share, you should have gotten it as a joint present.

As it is, it's the 7yo's toy and he's under no obligation to share it.

Maybe your 7 year old doesn’t want to play with the 4year old. You’ve said yourself they are very different people. Despite the idealised picture of siblings you can’t force them to be close. If you try and make them play together it will probably just breed resentment.

You could try and explain to the 7year old that yes it’s his present but it’s nice to share with people who would like a go, then tbh it’s his decision. It sounds like he does share generally. Stop trying to enforce a brotherly bond if they play together naturally great, if not accept you just have 2 individuals whose only connection. Is parentage and don’t expect them to be friends

Also it’s a good life lesson for the 4year old to be told no and for the 7 year old to make their own decisions about their property