2 year old hates children coming to play...

[ijustwant8hours]

DS will happily play with (well tolerate)other kids in the park and is kind of managable at playgroup or other peoples houses but if a friend brings the same child to our house it is a nightmare. DS (2.4) does not want the other child to touch his toys and will either snatch them back or just descend into a tantrum "no no its ds's" etc.

I've tried prepping him before visits and asking him if there is anything he wants to put away and I don't tolerate him snatching from others. But I don't really know how to handle it - should I force him to let others touch his stuff? or will that make it worse?

My D.S is 2.4 and we had the same here, it makes these visits from other children and their parents quite stressful.

I think he felt I was giving his toys away for good and found it difficult to cope with.

Sorry can't really help but will watch the thread with interest and just wanted to let know you weren't alone. Perhaps we should get them together.

My DS is 2.4 and is exactly the same. Maybe it is their age and they will grow out of it soon? [hopeful]

I shower my DS with lots of praise when he (rarely) shares something. I also find that if he is tired he turns into the devil child, so I only arrange for friends to come over in the morning when he is likely to be sociable.

My DS was a pain around this age, and after one particularly trying date, he was heard to say, "look Mummy, friend didn't take that toy away after all" He thought that if he let them play then they would take it home with them. What I found helped, was saying things like, "shall we get some toys ready for them to play with WHILE THEY ARE HERE?" and " let them share your toys while they are playing here in our house"
Also, never letting your child take anything home from nursery or from a friends house.

Could you maybe have a box of toys that is spcifically for sharing (so not "his" toys) that only comes out when other children come round to play?

I agree it's completely normal at this age. You probably already know that taking turns is a much easier concept for them to understand than sharing. Other than that I would praise him extravagently for good sharing when you're out and for the time being only have children with understanding mothers round to play. Easier when the weather gets better and you can meet in the park etc.