My girls won’t stop fighting!

Hi kebe my older two girls are the same age as yours so I'll just share some of where they are at. I do often leave them to play while I have a shower or hang out the washing etc, so I think you're right to expect that that is ok and you don't need to supervise that age all the time! Recently sharing has altered a bit to turn-taking, ie when I hang washing they often want to play on the trampoline but the younger one (Briona) freaks out when the older one (Hannah) jumps her. So I tell them they have two minutes each. Usually Briona will jump first and Hannah will sit on the edge of the mat, then (I will prompt Briona when necessary) after about 2 minutes Briona is to sit down and say "your turn" to Hannah. And two minutes later, it reverses again. Hannah doesn't always need prompting but Briona usually does.

We have about 3 mornings out per week (Mon-Fri) where we visit the puzzle library/playgroup and groceries; coffee group; and music group (like Mainly Music). And the days in between we usually are at home and I do expect them to play together nicely. I try to involve them with some of the housework (like putting away their clothes and loading the dishwasher) but usually they choose to play anyway. If Hannah gets bored or tired she'll do some pretty silly things and she has to take a book to our family room (or her bedroom) and when she's 'read' it she can come back. If Briona gets like that she has to sit/lie on the couch with her doll and a rug (which she does like, but at this time she has to) for a minute or two. If she doesn't seem better after then I would put her to bed, but it doesn't usually come to that.

Briona still sleeps in the daytime, Hannah sometimes does. While it's tempting to put them down at the same time, I've found it better to do a puzzle (or some activity that Briona is too young for) together with her after Briona is in bed but before Hannah's rest. I try to do other activities with them individually during the day, or read a book to both, or help them both do different puzzles at the same time.

I guess a lot of it comes down to "if you won't play nicely, I'll have to (send you to bed) (take that toy away until lunchtime) (etc)" and I insist that the offender apologise when the other one gets hurt.

Some other ideas are to encourage teamwork: like making ham and cheese sandwiches for example, you do the butter, Miss 3 does the ham and Miss 2 does the cheese etc. And make sure you do spend a bit of time with each every day to rule out 'attention-seeking'.

That's about all I can think of for now.

hi Kelly! nice to see you on OB!

My sister has two girls same age and they fight all the time too. Now they have a little brother they fight over him most of the time and I think she doesnt know what to do either. Do all kids fight like this? I know I fought with my brothers and sisters all the time and Im heaps younger than them