I've recently started childminding a friend's little girl (Lola) for 3 afternoons a week. She is 6 months younger than my dd and they both go to the same preschool every morning. Lola and dd are both nice little girls and we're used to having Lola over to play from time to time, but since it's become 'official' she and dd have been squabbling a LOT. Most of the time they play nicely, but then it will suddenly hit flashpoint and they will immediately be literally fighting physically. I'm trying to keep them both as busy as possible, taking them out, separating them as soon as it happens and Lola's mum is aware of the situation and says Lola is still happy coming, but it's driving me round the bend. DD is definitely jealous - she's told me as much, but it is coming as much from the mindee as from her. I do have sympathy with both of them because they're in each others company A LOT and I can understand that seeing so much of one person can get trying even for adults.
I've been working on the assumption that they're still settling down and it will get better over the time, but can anyone reassure me that this is the case and give me some tips on how to manage it? I have 4 children so I'm well used to squabbling, but not between little girls and not this much