Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Flip

Original poster

When previously only children have to start sharing their toys with a sibling...

4 replies

LeoTheLateBloomer · 11/09/2011 11:57

I'm asking this for my DSis.

She has a DD who is 3.8 and DS, 5mo. Until now, all the toys in the house have 'belonged' to her DD, but now they want her to understand that things like the farm, cars, bricks etc actually need to be shared with her brother.

DSis would like to know if there are any good strategies out there for toddlers to understand how to make this transition.

TIA

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

An0therName · 11/09/2011 13:01

I think with sharing it always helps if there are some toys which are special and don't need to be shared - so my DS there were things we put away when friends came round, also maybe have some "big girl" toys that maybe she keeps in her bedroom that she also doesn't have to share
and I would have thought they have a bit of time yet - as I imagine a 5 mo would only want to play with baby toys at the moment - so I guess by the time he want to play with bricks, farm etc she will be a bit older and got the idea

BertieBotts · 11/09/2011 13:05

Try making it seem like it's the DD's decision to share, e.g. "DD, can you think of any games that your brother can join in with?" and also turn taking as well if she wants to play with something by herself.

DeWe · 11/09/2011 14:31

I think expecting toys that have been hers suddenly to be theirs is a very difficult one. Perhaps she can sort out some toys that she is too big for and the baby might want.
If there are toys that (in particularly if they were presents) are special then I think it's important that they can stay as hers. The emphasis to me should be on sharing what she has (and the baby also sharing back) not telling her the toys are now belonging to both of them which I don't think particularly helps sharing.
My children argue far more over the trampoline which they all share than their individual toys which, in the most part, they are very generous in sharing.

Vickymumof2 · 02/12/2011 18:36

I've been rather guilty of buying gender specific toys, but I like the idea of passing on toys to the younger sibling - might try that. Will help their philanthropic natures to develop (i hope!)

Flip