Fighting toddlers

[Blissfultiggy]

How do you deal with your kids fighting?

Mine are 2.5 & 1.5 and the youngest just wants to play but the oldest just won’t have it. Everything he touches his big sister pushes him over or hits him. He’s getting older now too so he’s started hitting her back 🤦‍♀️

They’re too young to separate properly, they can’t go to their own rooms etc

I cannot cope with the fighting, nothings getting done because I’m constantly having to tell them off. I know it’s normal but how are you dealing with it

You literally have to sit in the middle of them so you can intercept immediately if it starts to go wrong. During interactions remind them to say "no stop!" if they are worried/cross or someone is trying to take their toy and if you hear that praise and immediately move the other one away. But they won't manage it immediately. It's impossible to get anything else done when they're in this stage unless one is in the pram or highchair so that you can push the hoover around or similar. Otherwise all your time is spent modelling and keeping them safe. It's worth it though, my two year old and four year old now play beautifully together even when they both want the same toy.

Thank you, it’s nice to hear that you’ve got through the other side with them and with any luck it won’t always be like this x

There was a period of about six months where I was furious and crying most days. But then it gradually got better. And now I hear them asking the other one if they have finished playing with that toy, or can I have a turn when you're finished, or they take eachother toys they think the other one will like without any prompting. But yeah, we had a long period where I honestly thought none of it was going in and was worried about either one of them getting really hurt! Hang in there 💪