at the end of my tether

[pop]

Am looking for any advice on behaviour management. Have twins who are newly 3 and a five year old and although I am looking forward to the school holidays for the fact that I won't be rushing them all the time - I am really dreading them too. Find that the twins fight a lot and 5 yr old winds them up so every day ends in me feeling almost hysterical. Am a primary school teacher myself and that makes it worse as I think I should have the answers but don't. Think a lot stems from quite delayed speech with 3 yr olds so still difficult to reason with them at all. They seem to be ruling the roost and I need some kind of system or I will need to be institutionalised by the end of the hols! Any suggestions VERY welcome.

Could you send the 5yo to holiday club some days/half days, to give everyone a break?

Maybe make a list of things the twins do (be very specific) that bother you, & just try to tackle those little things, rather than "the big picture". Sometimes the big picture sorts itself when you work on the little pieces.

Are your twins both boys? I have 2 1/2 yr old twin boys who also fight constantly. Its their big sister(10) who tends to wind them up, she just doesnt know how to play with them calmly... their big brother(8) just gets on with his own thing.... I also think they rule the roost.... will be watching for your replies. Your not in the south east are you? thought we could maybe meet up

Have you tried casting the 5 year old in the role of special little helper with the twins(without giving any real responsibility or creating a hitler of course). It might divert him/her from twin baiting.