I find myself telling the boys, especially to Calvin, “play nicely” all the time. They DO play nicely from time to time (like in the photo), but for most of the time, they fight for the same toy. If you are a parent with young children like me, you’ll appreciate this — the toy has been sitting there untouched for ages and no one wants to play with it UNTIL someone touches it. Then the fighting and snatching and screaming starts. The winner takes the toy, but not to play with it, rather, just so that the other party can’t touch it. In my household, Calvin is almost always the winner and some days he just won’t share his toys with his brother no matter what I say. It can be frustrating, I must say. I have been told that such behaviour is very normal and common among young children.

When the fighting starts, I usually tell Calvin that he should share the toy with his little brother or that he has to wait for his turn. It really takes a bit of effort to get Calvin to let his brother have a turn. Needs a lot of patience and perseverance. If nothing works, I will take the toy away which generates even louder screaming, but I believe it teaches both boys a lesson. Calvin is responding much better these days — in the past he wouldn’t budge an inch. I believe Athan is also learning a little about sharing and taking turns from all the fighting with his brother!