My toddlers have started to fight over toys and over attention as well. I have been told that fighting over toys is part of their social and emotional development. Although it seems that their behavior is nothing out of the ordinary, it does bother me a lot. I think any mother would be bothered to see their children fighting over a toy flailing wildly at each other. But I think what bothers me most is how fast they get over the fight.
Once I saw both of them arms up high flailing at each other and both shouting “Mine! Mine!” But before I could intercede lest they hurt each other really bad, they were suddenly laughing and tickling each other. Did I miss something there? How can they be fighting one second and giggling together the next. This has happened a couple of times more. In each one, the transition from fighting to loving each other transpired in a blink of an eye.
My sister supposed that this “fighting” could be actually be part of their play. If it is so, I hope they play something less violent and more friendly and fun. I am comforted though by the fact that each night before they go to bed, my toddlers say their prayers together (well, at least my daughter says her prayers while her little brother listens), kiss each other good night and say their i-love-you’s.
This sounds like something I see in babies a lot. For example, babies will often start crying and throwing a fit like something is seriously wrong and then all of a sudden (like in an instant) their fine as if nothing happened. It’s almost as if it’s all for show.
DJ
There is a 10 years gap between my eldest and my bunso…her AteIshi (now turning 18 yo) is already like a Mom to my Icko. However, Ate Ishi usually turns wildeverytime the little boy is rummaging on her things hehehe…
But I had a sister and brother almost the same age as I am and I can vividly remember fighting on even the minute things you can ever think of,but at the end of the day, we will still give each other a good night kiss…..
I have kids who are two years apart and I think that it is but normal for them to fight over things sometimes. I think it’s a natural, being two diff individuals. As parents, our responsibility is to teach children how to fight fair and that at the end of the day its still love that will prevail between siblings.
I am so touched by the story. It makes me think that the author really has a great and happy family. Children are really playful and as long as they enjoy what they did, there would be nothing wrong with that. Allowing them to do what they want and teaching them to do the right thing, they will soon realize that they should make changes on their actions. Sometimes we have to let kids be kids, those are part of growing up. As soon as they grew up, they’d be able to realize that a hurtful game isn’t fun anymore. You can also talk to your little girl since she’s the oldest or you can tell them both in a nice way that hurting each other is bad.