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Behaviour/development

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

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Original poster

HELP! 3.5yr and 9 month old - How can they play happily?

12 replies

FLAMEinEckItsWiiDay · 08/12/2006 13:40

DD is of an age now where she plays with her cars - lining them up racing them... she'll play little villages with her little people. She make believes happily.

DS is of an age where he is cruising, crawling, bashing and sucking... normally the lined up cars, the little people villages... you get the idea!

DD keeps pushing him away, trying to block his path etc. I understand her feelings - he's messing up her perfectly organised games (and she needs them perfectly organised...), but I can also see that he is only little and wants to play with her.

He already idolises her - I can try and sit and amuse him, but he doesn't want me - he wants her, he loves it when she consents to play with him and make him laugh, give him his cars to drive etc.

I don't know what to do - I don't know how to keep him out of her way so that she can play nicely. I don't think she should have to play with him all the time. I suggested she play in her room so he can't get them, but understandably, she wants to be near me too.

Suggestions please before I get a baby beaten to death with a toy car

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Original poster

FLAMEinEckItsWiiDay · 08/12/2006 13:58

Please?

OP posts:

USAUKMum · 08/12/2006 14:00

Hey Flame -- its hard isn't it? I've just come out of the other side of this (DS now 2.4 & DD 5.9). To tell you there is light at the end now DD & DS can play happily together and apart

When DS was younger I sort of classified playing in three ways: We used to have things that we'd play while he was sleeping -- usually things involving small bits (playdough, barbie, etc). Things they could play together, e.g. balls, music, blocks, etc and then things they play seperately. So maybe try to get them to play together when he gets up and really keen to be with DD. Some ball rolling or driving cars etc. Then after a bit, maybe he will then do something with you while DD has a play. I used to get DD to set up her "scenes" on a play table as DS couldn't pull himself up on the table (a bit too high) so DD was happy with that. Meanwhile we'd play some sort of cruising/crawling obstacle course. (lay out pillows, etc on floor then crawl over them.)

Good luck

Original poster

FLAMEinEckItsWiiDay · 08/12/2006 14:08

Oooh I like the sound of playing together then playing apart when he gets bored. We already have "sleeping play"

OP posts:

USAUKMum · 08/12/2006 14:10

Yeah, didn't take long for my DS to get bored........

fireflyxmasfairylights2 · 08/12/2006 14:17

If I had the answer I wouldn't be blubbing to you on msn now!!!!

Anyone got a 2yr old and a 5yr old that don't want to kill eachother?????????????

USAUKMum · 08/12/2006 14:25

Yes mine. I have a DD (5.9) & DS (2.4). Or at least half the time

fireflyxmasfairylights2 · 08/12/2006 14:28

Sometimes mine get on really well, & then other times ds will pull dd's hair right from her head with one hand whilst stroking her on the face & saying "Awww my " So he's a fly little bugger! Then other times all he has to do is look at her wrong and she's off screeching... and telling tales

FLAMEinEckItsYuleAgain · 09/12/2006 09:36

Sorry - got engrossed in the wii and never came back

sockmonkey · 09/12/2006 09:56

No suggestions, just sympathy. DS1 pretty muh resented DS2 from the day he was born. They are 2 years apart. Like you say DS2 idolises DS1, and just wants to be with him all the time.
Things are easier now DS2 is walking & startng to talk a bit. They will play together sometimes and DS1 likes to teach him things he can copy.
I made a big fuss about how good he was playing with his brother and how clever he is for teaching him tricks like shaking his head.
I hope you manage to find a solution... if you do, let us know

anniebear · 09/12/2006 09:58

can your DD not set some of her games up on the dining table?

TinsellyRhino · 09/12/2006 10:00

my 6 yr old and nearly two yr old have a love/hate relationship

Peridot30 · 09/12/2006 10:19

In the same boat here 2. My ds is 5 and dd is 3. Most of the time they can play together however ds is very sensitive and dd plays on this by annoying him even in the slightest way. I do try and encourage them to play together. DD plays great with other kids outside house its just her brother that she noises up! (Think thats what the little sister does - I noised my brother up constantly

My problem is that they are both sharing a room and don't have their own space. Most of the time they play good together. We have toys that they play with at certain times like USAUKMUM.

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