Quote:
Originally Posted by mummytothree
It depends:
if it's a "community toy" and kid #1 has had it for a while I tend to make them give it up and then I let them play with a "put up toy" (ie: coloring book, play dough, board game).
If it's a "community toy" and kid #1 just started playing with it I do the whole....x more minutes and Kid #2 gets it then I let them play with a "put up toy" (ie: coloring book, play dough, board game).
If it's their own toy (like a gift they got) I make them go to their room to play with it (or in the playroom) and then I give Kid #2 a "put up toy" (ie: coloring book, play dough, board game).
We live in a house with 5 kids ranging in age from 13 to 2....so I'm sure my way of dealing is different then others. But I'm a BIG proponent of sharing and unless you are playing with something that was a gift to you (or you bought yourself for the older kids) then all the toys belong to everyone and need to be shared accordingly. If it's a toy that can be played with together then they do that....if it's a toy that only one person can play with then there will be a time limit placed in that toy. It works well and we don't often have to many fights. What has really helped in those "put up toys" I typed about....almost 9 times out of 10 kid #1 will gladly give up their toy for those!!!  |
I'm actually a lot like this too. I think it's important for kids to feel like they have a little control over things that are "theirs" - birthday/christmas gifts or special toys that they earned in some way. So, while I STRONGLY encourage sharing and try to move them in that direction, I kind of let them choose if they want to share those special toys.
For community toys, I often set timers and say that whoever currently has the toy can continue to play with it for "x" number of minutes, and then the other child gets a turn.
And, of course, if things really start to get out of hand, the toy goes away.