And NOW I have made my throat sore....

[poppiesinaline]

I am at a loss!!!! DS (9) and DD (6) argue all the time and fight (kicking and hitting) a common occurence in many homes I am sure but it is driving me MAD!

I have tried ignoring, tried naughty steps, tried time out, tried taking things away, tried rewards for a certain amount of time not fighting - all have failed. :(

I just heard DD screaming and then choking so rushed in to see what was happening and caught DS on top of her with his hands around her throat apparently because she had made 'a face' at him. I screamed so loudly at him that I now have a sore throat :( . I just set them both to bed. I wanted them (particularly him) out of my way before I hit him .

Anyone got any good tips of how to keep the squabbling to a minimum before I do some more damage to my throat!!!!? or the men in white coats come to cart me away!!....

no real idea here as mine are 4.5y and 19m.
My friend's kids are a bit older and one day when she got fed up with them fighting and slamming doors she simply went and un-hung all the doors in the flat. Needless to say her girls were shocked... my friend is usually a very calm person :)

Also she started punishing both of them no matter who started the fight... that soon hit home as there was no blame game to be had.

HTH and if not at least I bumped your thread for you :)

Awwww Poppies. Try ignoring them and talking all night on msn instead!

LOL DG!

Well, either no -one elses children argue OR no one has any solutions!!

sorry to hear this poppies. No advice I'm afraid as mine are a few years behind yours. But am bumping for you.

I think you are right in that no one has a solution!!

I also do the shouting till my throat is sore thing. Doesn't make a blind bit of difference.
I've tried all sorts of tactics with my children, but the only thing that seems to hit home is toys physically going in the bin. And yes, I have done this!! But it only lasts a short while, then we're back at square one. And even I can't throw every damn toy they possess away, though I would dearly love to some days!!

DS, age 7, is fairly subdued by t.v. been taken away, but DD, age 6 isn't bothered in the slightest and will go upstairs and read a book!!

Mine can fight like cat and dog for a couple of weeks, and then just when I think I can't take anymore peace is declared, and everything goes quiet for a few weeks. There is no logic to this, it just happens. I am trying to learn to go with the flow, but it's hard when you could quite cheerfully bash their heads together!!

My dd2 (10) and ds (9) argue constantly - this week I've really noticed it. I did a big shout today and immediately felt guilty, but they are old enough to know how to behave. I'm having a rubbish holiday, mainly by needing to finish some coursework myself. Didn't finish earlier as I'm behind due to my mum's death. Guilt, guilt, guilt in every direction!