[deadcalm]

I have a three year old and a 22 month old. Any tips on how to teach them to share their toys instead of fighting over them will be greatly appreciated.

[CaddoRose]

It can be tough unless you are watching them while they play. I can recommend using a timer with popular toys so that each one gets a turn. Making sure that one child is not taking a toy away from the other one just because they want it. If one kid grabs a toy, then that child does not get to play with it. I also put toys in time out if they are both fussing over it. This way no one gets the toy right then. I remind them to ask for a toy instead of whining or grabbing.

[Withay]

People may think my approach is unorthodox, but it works for my family. Whenever my boys (both 2 yo) are fighting over anything I simply tell them to 'work it out'. If they continue to fight over something I get it and they don't get it back until the next day.

It's amazing how quickly they quit fighting when I tell them to work it out. They don't like the consequences. Yes, it does take work to get to the point where all you have to do is say the words, but once you do things are a lot calmer.

[lucmarmic]

Originally Posted by Withay

People may think my approach is unorthodox, but it works for my family. Whenever my boys (both 2 yo) are fighting over anything I simply tell them to 'work it out'. If they continue to fight over something I get it and they don't get it back until the next day.

It's amazing how quickly they quit fighting when I tell them to work it out. They don't like the consequences. Yes, it does take work to get to the point where all you have to do is say the words, but once you do things are a lot calmer.

This is the same approach I use. I tell them once to that if they continue to fight over the toy or if they use the toy in an unsafe fashion. Then the Toy becomes mine and I put it in a closet. It usually takes a few times before they understand, but it works for us. I have 3 yr old twins who fight over EVERYTHING!!!

I usually clean the closet every two weeks. If they haven't asked for the toy back or noticed it was gone I than donate it to goodwill.

keeps the toy to child ratio low. My girls get over stimulated easy so this really works for us. Esp when everyone I know is always bringing gifts over we sometimes get overloaded with toys.

[ca-bigsister]

Sharing at two may not developmentally be possible unless being watched.

[arbuckle17]

Originally Posted by Withay

People may think my approach is unorthodox, but it works for my family. Whenever my boys (both 2 yo) are fighting over anything I simply tell them to 'work it out'. If they continue to fight over something I get it and they don't get it back until the next day.

It's amazing how quickly they quit fighting when I tell them to work it out. They don't like the consequences. Yes, it does take work to get to the point where all you have to do is say the words, but once you do things are a lot calmer.

That's a good idea. We are dealing with this now as well, and since neither kiddo is verbal all we get are screams.

[momraine]

When mine were that age (actually it still happens occasionally!) toys would go in time out. A toy would go to time out if it was causing a fight (the exception would be if it really did belong to one child, then the other child had to ask to play with it) or if the toy was doing things it is not supposed to be doing, like flying through the air or hitting someone. (no, not magic, but when someone is throwing it or hitting a sibling with it.) Time out was usually a high shelf, where the toy could be seen but not reached. Now it has to be out of sight, since they are older.