How well do your kids play together?

ldbryan

Our niece is two years older than DD1. SIL works at home, and our niece stays with her, so she's not around other kids on a daily basis. Last night we were at MIL's house. Niece got upset every time DD1 touched a toy, whether niece was playing with it or not. I told her to stop taking toys from DD1, and she sulled up and pouted. Is this what I have to look forward to or is she just not used to playing with other kids?  DD1 is a little young to "play with" niece yet...they mostly just play with different things in the same room.   DD2 is too young to play at all yet, so I don't know how my girls will do together. TIA! 

kcisthebombdotcom

I think this is going to vary so much based on the kids and their personalities.

My kids play really well together for the most part. They definitely have their moments where they get on each other's nerves and DS will get annoyed at DD for playing with something, but for the most part my DD looks up to her big brother and wants to do everything he does while my DS always wants to make sure his little sister is happy. He kind of mothers her--it's really cute and kind of funny.

With that being said, kids at 3 and 1 that don't live together probably just aren't going to be able to interact too much at those ages so a lot of that might have to do with that. However, I do think that kids raised with other siblings act differently than only children most of the time. My niece is 4 and does not play well with my DS at all, while my friend's son is the same age and does really well with him (and happens to have two other siblings).

LizK507

I agree that it varies a lot and I also think the dynamic between cousins is different than with siblings. My DS and DD are 16 months apart and they absolutely love each other. They fight over toys like siblings are expected to (and DD tries to sabotage anything DS is working on), but they care for and look out for each other and genuinely enjoy being together and having each other's company. We may have a different story when #3 arrives and/or these two may change, but I'm already realizing my dreams of having them be super close friends by virtue of being close in age. Fingers crossed you experience the same as yours grow!

laura1

Mine play very well together, at times, and at other times it is like you describe.  My DS is the same age as your niece, and there are times that he gets very upset when DD touches any of his toys - even when he is not playing with them.  We talk a lot about sharing, and i have him choose one of the toys to let DD use. I think it is mostly the age, as DS likes to do puzzles, build with blocks, etc, and DD tries to "help" but doesn't have the same skills yet.  But other times they play really well together, like when they play with the play kitchen or the water table, etc.  For the most part they love each other and they are best friends.

MammaBear81

kids do not naturally share their things, they have to be taught .  It helps to be aroundothernkids, but your SIL can teach her daughter to share regardless.  I made a huge effort for my kids to share at an early age (goes right along with manners in my book) but I can see how many parents that don't have their kids in social situations often or have another child close in age to miss the boat with sharing.

 If it happens again I'd use it as a learning experience.  Your niece is old enough to understand taking turns, when she gets upset that your LO has a toy, acknowledge her, and say "would your like to play with that?". When she says yes, tell her that your LO Is playing with it right now but she can have a turn in one minute.  your LO will most likely lose interest in it by then, but if not, distract her and let your niece have a turn.  After a while she will probably realize that she doesn't want everything LO has and relax,  GL!