Any tips for dealing with squabbling?

[MegBusset]

The DSes (5 and nearly 3) are driving me crazy with their constant squabbling/snatching/whinging over every single thing that the other one has. I am currently confiscating every toy that's being squabbled over but at this rate within the next 24 hours every toy in the house will be on a shelf. Has anyone got any other methods of dealing with it?

Well my method is- and by no means am I saying it is right but it's how we roll here! :

"if you squabble the thing thing you are squabbling about we be taken away if I have to tell you again"
All toys in the playroom are for sharing- I have two girls so all toys are joint. if they can't share it it goes.
"If you carry on squabbling you will go in the naughty corner" and when I'm really fucked off with it I say - "next person to tell tales goes in the naughty corner, you can use your words and work as a team- there is no need for this"

As I say, it's not perfect but 9 times out of ten it works :-)

Thank you, I have started to use the naughty step again which I hadn't needed to for ages!

I'm jumping in for some advice too. DD recently 4 and DS 6, so similar age gap. They too, cannot stop bickering and fighting over toys, what they watch on tele, who sits where, etc. They're driving me mad.

Oh god don't tell me I've got another year of this

"Shut up NOW or go to bed."

Then send the next child who complains at you to bed.

Needless to say they are both good as gold at school/preschool, play with their friends and share toys beautifully.

Pah. Mine are 6and 9 and still have their moments.

I ignore it, even if they have a little fight. It becomes very negative if you keep saying "no" all of the time. They generally don't bother now

X-posted. They would be in their rooms pretty much 24-7. Mmm, quite an appealing thought some days...

mine are same ages but boy and girl. it drives me nuts. brill on their own but bicker and fight over everything together.