DC1 will only play with DC2s toys

[ITrulyMoustache]

I'm sure this is fairly normal behaviour but we don't really know what to do. DD (4) is only interested in playing with DS (2) toys. She has plenty of toys that she enjoys but will mainly ignore them. She could ask for a particular toy and be given it, but then she will immediately drop it and try to play with whatever DS has been given. She has her own toys that she's asked not to share with DS, so we make a point of them having both sharing and non sharing toys. We are fair with them, equally explaining that these are DDs special toys or these are DSs special toys, or these are shared toys so sort out a swap etc. We've done things like DS loves trains and we've let DD have some of her own track and trains to play with but no, she has to play with his (this works vice versa too, DS has some things similar to DD so he leaves her stuff alone). Is this just a phase we have to ride through? Or has someone got any other ideas to try? Thanks

I would be quite firm about saying, 'No. DS is playing with that. You need to find something else' or 'No. There are lots of toys to play with. DS is playing with that now. You can have a turn when he is finished' or 'No. It's not your turn now'. If necessary physically steer her away.

It's totally age appropriate and normal, but she does need to be taught that she has to share and take turns and quite frankly it's tough if she doesn't like it. I know adults who only want something because someone else has it! I blame it on not being told 'No' enough when they were little or not being taught to share and take turns.

She will always be his big sister so she needs to learn to treat him with respect, and not take his stuff just because she can. She's being manipulative and making everyone's lives more difficult in order to test her power over you. Thinking step all the way...