"Mine!" advice?

remote_girl

So my two year old has discovered "mine!" and has been shouting it at the top of his lungs from time to time. I am kind of at a loss for how to handle it, as he only usually does it when something actually is his. I know when he picks up something he shouldn't that is mine or his father's, I will say that something is mine, and I don't know of another way to express this and then expect him to not shout "mine!" with his own stuff. We have been saying that it isn't nice to shout it, because we can't figure out anything else to say - we just don't want playdates to turn into a "mine" shouting match (even though he actually shares pretty well). Any thoughts?

remote_girl

ghah! i need to update my ticker and picture - so old!

KT&John

My 20 month old boy is doing this too. I don't have any great advice because despite our efforts he is still doing it. I tell him (whatever it is) is his, but it is nice to share. I think I need a new tactic, so I'm interested to see what other people say!

MSquires100

I have honestly don't have great advice, as we've had our ups and down's the the "MINE" phase.  First I absolutely hate the "mine" phase.  I did however learn from watching my BIL what not to do, as his DS was crazy "mine, mine, mine" because he honestly made the phase a game and when his DS would say it, my BIL would grab whatever it was and then say mine.  So it was a back and forth game to my BIL and to his son, but then when something wasn't really his or he did have to share, man talk about melt down central. 

SO having said that, I have done the ignoring DS when I would here him say mine, if we were just around the house.  But when we are with friends or playdates, we talk about sharing or find something for both kids to have the whole, let your friend play with this and you play with this, then you can switch.  When it comes to stuff that is mommy's or daddy's - primarily our stupid iPhones causes the biggest issues if he sees it, it's is now "Matthew's phone", I hate to say it, but we lie to him..  We tell him it's "out of juice" i.e. needs to charge.  If it's other things that he either should play with or just random crap that we just don't want broken or ruined, we will him that they are special to Mommy or Daddy and for whatever reason he gets it.  In DH's office he has all this sports memorabilia, so it's like DS's Toys r Us.  But only after a few times of him hearing that's Daddy's special ball, helmet whatever he quit the mine.  Granted it didn't go without a few meltdowns   Guess he just gave up and figured he would find something else that was "mine"

Good luck!  Again, not the greatest advice what so ever but it what's working for us for the time being.

remote_girl

thanks for the tips - i am glad others are as perplexed as i am! :-)

That.Just.Happened

I know the Montessori method teaches that rather than trying to get them to share (because at this age, they truly don't understand that concept) instead teach them to take turns.  They can understand that.  We try that. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it devolves in to "MY turn!" which is pretty much the equivalent of "mine" I guess. But at least she gets the concept of that, whereas sharing goes right over her head.