How to best deal with tale-telling

[SilveryMoon]

I have 2 ds's. 5yrs and 4yrs.
They are both massive tale-tellers. "he hit me/sat on my toy/pushed me/snatched the game/called me a name"
with the other replying "that's because he did this/that"
It drives me bat-shit crazy. They run to me all the time yelling to the other one that they are going to tell on them and then comes some pointless he called me a name stuff in that horrid whingy voice so the other one runs and says that it was because he did this/that.
So, when this kind of stuff happens, I should just tell them both that I don't like tale-telling and if they can't play nicely with each other then they shouldn't play together and split them up for a while?
If i used time out for this, they'd spend most of the day in time out! But maybe I should to start, it'd get easier as they learn that I won't entertain tales anymore won't it?
HELP!

have a look at Conflict ,resolution. it is a simple technique with about 6 steps.

first, ask each child what happened,
repeat each story back to child to clarify,
ask them how they can solve the problem.

don't pass judgement, give them the skills to sort it themselves. it really does work but you need to always approach following the rules.

google conflict resolution!

Thanks devil will have a look now

it's something I use with my class. the children quickly get used to you turning the problem back to them

Thanks. I've found some stuff I'm going to try. Thanks for suggestion

I got sick of this from my 5 year old (and worried about its effect on friendships) so DH and I decided to lay down rules. It's ok to tell if it's dangerous, someone is getting badly hurt, or if he's asked directly by a grown up. Otherwise he sorts it out himself.

It seems harsh but I'm done with it, DD is 2 and he was running to me every three seconds because she'd not put a book back on the shelf, or she'd taken her socks off. Maddening!

I think when DD is older devil's suggestion will be one to try though.

Here, it's not about if they don't put something back orf any of that, it;s all about snatching or not sharing, or name calling. Have really had enough of it but don't want to be saying "don't care" because of course I care, but I can't spend my whole day listening to it, you know?

Mine also share a bedroom, so it;s very difficult for them to get time on their own. They wind each other up constantly.
At times I have had to tell one to go and sit in his bedroom for a bit and ban the other one from going in there. But that's not fair either is it? Such a struggle